The Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care is holding a special roundtable meeting in May in the City of Playford.

One of the Commission's terms of reference relates to the role early childhood education and care can play in the first 1000 days of a child's life. The Commission is interested in considering this term of reference through the lens of the lives of children in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.

Roundtable participants

  • The Hon Julia Gillard, Royal Commissioner
  • Sinead O'Brien, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network
  • Nancy Penna, Anglicare SA
  • Sam Green, City of Playford
  • Dr Rhiannon Pilkington, Better Start, Adelaide University
  • Melanie Tate, Puddle Jumpers SA
  • Glennis Warrior, Department for Education
  • Paula Pittam, Goodstart
  • Jacqueline Lilley, Nido LDC
  • Lisa Downs, Stepping Stone SA
  • Peter Sandeman, Centre for Social Impact, Flinders University
  • Helen Connolly, Commissioner for Children and Young People
  • Jo Saunders, Adams Road Childrens Centre

The Royal Commissioner, Hon Julia Gillard AC, hosted a roundtable on 22 May in the City of Playford with delivery agencies, early childhood and family service providers and non-government organisations to inform its considerations on ways early childhood education and care could better support families in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.

Dr Rhiannon Pilkington, Epidemiologist from Adelaide University presented to the roundtable with data and research complied by BetterStart which provided a snapshot of families and children living in northern Adelaide.

The discussion focused on the need for better engagement, relationship and trust building with families to support service provision and some of the practical barriers such as transport access for families to get to early learning services.

The Commission heard that universal services need to be universally available, be safe and welcoming for families who may be wary of engaging with government and non-government service providers.

Roundtable participants encouraged the importance of trauma-informed practice in better engaging with families and children in early learning settings, particularly for communities in the region.

There was broad consensus on the opportunities for coordinated and integrated wrap around supports for some children who are developmentally at risk as identified in the Commission's Interim Report.

The Royal Commission would like to thank the City of Playford for hosting the roundtable and series of hearings on 22 and 23 May 2023.