About the initiative

Aims of KidsMatter Early Childhood

The KidsMatter Early Childhood initiative provides a continuous improvement framework to enable preschool and long day care services to plan and implement evidence based mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention strategies that aim to:

  • Improve the mental health and wellbeing of children from birth to school age,
  • Reduce mental health problems among children, and
  • Achieve greater support for children experiencing mental health difficulties and their families.

The KidsMatter Early Childhood Pilot

KidsMatter Early Childhood is being piloted in 111 preschools and long day care centres across all states and territories in Australia. The initiative is based on the latest research on how to strengthen children’s mental health and wellbeing.

For a list of Australian early childhood services, including preschools and long day care centres, that have been selected for the pilot, click on KidsMatter Early Childhood Pilot Sites.

For further information on the development of the initiative, please see the Acknowledgments page.

To view a brochure with information about the pilot for staff and families, please download the KidsMatter Early Childhood brochure for families and staff.

To read more about the pilot, please download the KidsMatter Early Childhood Overview Booklet.

KidsMatter Early Childhood Partners

KidsMatter Early Childhood has been developed in collaboration with the Commonwealth Government Department of Health and Ageing, beyondblue: the national depression initiative, the Australian Psychological Society and Early Childhood Australia. To read more about the partners, click here.

The four components of KidsMatter Early Childhood

KidsMatter Early Childhood uses a risk and protective factor framework to focus on four components where early childhood services can strengthen the protective factors and minimise risk factors for children’s mental health and wellbeing. These four areas make up the core content of KidsMatter Early Childhood and are consistent with the KidsMatter Primary Schools initiative:

  1. Creating a sense of community
  2. Developing children’s social and emotional skills
  3. Working with parents and carers
  4. Helping children who are experiencing mental health difficulties

KidsMatter Early Childhood Evaluation

A comprehensive evaluation of the KidsMatter Early Childhood pilot is being undertaken by the Centre for Analysis of Educational Futures, Flinders University of South Australia.

They will be providing updates on the evaluation at their KidsMatter Early Childhood Evaluation website

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander KidsMatter Early Childhood

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander KidsMatter Early Childhood is a project that falls under the KidsMatter suite of initiatives. It will be delivered by the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) in partnership with the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and the KidsMatter Early Childhood Implementation Group.
 
This new initiative aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled early childhood services and their staff and families in their work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from birth to school age. In consultation with key sector and community stakeholders, this project will deliver training and produce culturally appropriate resources and training materials to support the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
 
For further information on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander KidsMatter Early Childhood initiative, please visit the SNAICC website.