Landmark partnership to boost outcomes for East Kimberley children

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.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the agreement sets a national benchmark for genuine partnership under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, led by community priorities and shared decision‑making.

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the agreement sets a national benchmark for genuine partnership.

“Closing the Gap nationally depends on governments backing locally led solutions,” she added.

“This Partnership puts Aboriginal leadership at the centre and gives children in the East Kimberley the strongest possible start in life.”

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.

An important step

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.

Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley president David Menzel welcomed 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,” he said.

WA Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch said Closing the Gap required all levels of government to work differently, in genuine and sustained partnership with Aboriginal communities.

“By placing Aboriginal communities at the centre of planning, design, and decision-making, this partnership will help deliver stronger outcomes for East Kimberely children,” he said.