Supporting Strong Transitions for our Aboriginal Children and Families

Supporting Aboriginal Children and Families Transitioning to Big School

This presentation introduces the NSW AECG Early Years Team and the Transition to School (TTS) Program, led by ECCEOs working across NSW to support Aboriginal children, families, early childhood services and schools. It explains the AECG–DoE Partnership Agreement and why strong, culturally grounded transitions are critical for lifelong learning. Throughout we will unpack some common experiences and barriers for Aboriginal children and families, and highlight best-practice approaches: embedding culture every day, starting transition early, building independence and confidence over the year, and using Transition to School Statements well. It also maps the broader support landscape (education, health, NDIS, ACCOs, Local AECGs, government partners) and shows how ECCEOs walk alongside families and services to coordinate wraparound, culturally safe support. Key messages are that transition is a year-round journey, culture is the foundation of school readiness, early identification and advocacy matter, and community and families sit at the heart of every child’s success.