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Fully Fund What Works

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Tell the Australian Government to fully fund a proven First Nations-led approach for their children’s futures.

The Australian Government commissioned an independent evaluation of the Children’s Ground Approach. It found that the Approach works and recommended coordinated government funding for an initial seven years.

The government is yet to act.

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Why this petition matters

An independent evaluation commissioned by the Australian Government found that the Children’s Ground Approach is effective, implemented well and contributing to outcomes across early learning, health and employment.

Its central recommendation was coordinated funding across multiple Australian Government departments, beginning with an initial seven-year commitment.

That recommendation has not been implemented. Children’s Ground is still forced to rely on short-term, piecemeal funding that prevents communities from delivering the full Approach.

When Children’s Ground leaders take this petition to Canberra, every signature will show the Australian Government that people expect it to act on the evidence and fully fund what works.

Children’s Ground demonstrates significant capability at leading whole of community and First Nations system design and solutions. Allen + Clarke Consulting Evaluation of the Children’s Ground Approach (2025)

What the independent evaluation found

The Australian Government commissioned Allen + Clarke Consulting to independently evaluate the Children’s Ground Approach.

The evaluation found that the Approach is effective, its activities are being implemented well and its work aligns closely with government priorities. It found that Children’s Ground is contributing to outcomes across early learning, health, employment and community wellbeing.

It also identified inadequate and fragmented funding as a major barrier to delivering the full Approach.

Read the independent evaluation summary

What the evaluation recommended

The evaluation recommended that the Australian Government:

  1. establish coordinated funding across multiple government departments, beginning with an initial seven-year commitment;
  2. establish an independent inter-agency Governance Group; and
  3. provide access to government-held longitudinal data so Children’s Ground’s long-term impact can be measured.

These recommendations would give First Nations communities the stability and coordination needed to deliver the full Children’s Ground Approach.

What we are asking the government to do

We are calling on the Australian Government to act on the evidence it commissioned and fully fund the Children’s Ground Approach for an initial seven years.

Long-term, coordinated funding would allow First Nations communities to deliver an integrated approach to learning, health, community development, economic development and culture—without continually relying on short-term grants and fundraising to survive.

Add your name

Every signature strengthens the call for the Australian Government to fund a First Nations-led approach that its own independent evaluation found works.

Add your name before Children’s Ground leaders take the petition to Canberra.

Sign the petition