A landmark agreement under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap has been reached to strengthen services and support for Aboriginal children and families in the East Kimberley.
Signed by all levels of government and Aboriginal leaders, the East Kimberley Little Footprints Big Futures Partnership will drive improved outcomes for children and families in the early years.
Developed with local Aboriginal community partners, the place-based partnership brings together the Albanese and Cook Labor governments, Binarri-binyja yarrawoo Aboriginal Corporation (BBY), and the Shires of Halls Creek and Wyndham-East Kimberley to provide a more co-ordinated support for children and families.
East Kimberley communities identified the early years, from pre-birth to age seven, as a crucial period to shape lifelong outcomes. The partnership prioritises investment in community-led approaches to strengthen the services and systems that support children and families during this crucial stage.
The agreement drives lasting, sustainable change by ensuring culturally safe government services and strong recognition of Aboriginal self-determination as central to achieving community defined outcomes.
The partnership will focus on implementing the Priority Reform areas under the National Agreement to drive progress against key Closing the Gap targets for children and families in Kununurra, Wyndham, and Halls Creek.
This includes improving healthy birthweights, increasing access to early childhood education and supporting children to reach early development milestones, alongside the foundations which support strong families such as safe homes and strong cultures and languages.
It will also ensure East Kimberley Aboriginal communities have a direct role in the planning, design, delivery, and evaluation of early years programs and services, recognising that co-ordinated support in the early years will deliver lasting benefits for communities and accelerate progress towards Closing the Gap.
To learn more about the partnership, visit www.wa.gov.au/EKPBP
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
"This place-based agreement sets a national benchmark for genuine partnership under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, led by community priorities and shared decision‑making.
"Closing the Gap nationally depends on governments backing locally led solutions.
"This Partnership puts Aboriginal leadership at the centre and gives children in the East Kimberley the strongest possible start in life."
Quotes attributable to WA Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch:
"Closing the Gap requires all levels of government to work differently, in genuine and sustained partnership with Aboriginal communities.
"This landmark agreement recognises the leadership of East Kimberley Aboriginal communities in shaping locally led solutions for children and families, grounded in community priorities, knowledge, and aspirations.
"By placing Aboriginal communities at the centre of planning, design, and decision-making, this partnership will help deliver stronger outcomes for East Kimberely children."
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek:
"Too often, decisions have been made far away from the children and families they affect, without enough consultation.
"This Partnership changes that by making sure Aboriginal communities have a direct role in the planning, design, delivery, and evaluation of the services supporting their children.
"Our hope is that this partnership will not only change the lives of children and families in Kununurra, Wyndham, or Halls Creek, but become a blueprint for change everywhere."
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh:
"We know that the early years of our children's lives are critical for laying strong foundations for health, learning, development, and identity.
"This partnership will help families in Kununurra, Wyndham, and Halls Creek give their young ones a strong start in life.
"By working with local Aboriginal community partners and collaborating across governments, this partnership will support self-determination in the East Kimberley region."
Quotes attributable to WA Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton:
"The early years from pre-birth to age seven are a critical window for change, shaping children's health, learning, and wellbeing for life.
"By investing early and aligning services around community-led priorities, we are strengthening the foundations that help children and their families thrive in the early years."
Quotes attributable to Binarri-binyja yarrawoo Aboriginal Corporation Chair Sally Martin:
"In the East Kimberley, real change happens when community leads and governments work alongside us.
"By putting children and families at the centre of the Place-Based Partnership Agreement, we're strengthening early years development and building stronger, more resilient communities for the future."
Quotes attributable to Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley president David Menzel:
"We welcome the East Kimberley Place-Based Partnership as an important step in working together to deliver better outcomes for our communities.
"By aligning effort across all levels of government, we can strengthen liveability, improve connection, and support a more sustainable future for the East Kimberley."