Australia's policy terrain is committed to support cultural diversity and inclusion in early childhood education. For instance, the National Quality Framework considers cultural competence as one of the critical ingredients of quality practice and thus requires services to be respectful of and responsive to the cultural backgrounds of the children in their care (ACECQA, 2020). On the other hand, the Closing the Gap strategy focuses on achieving better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children through the provision of culturally appropriate services via community partnerships (Australian Government, 2023).
This policy on multiculturalism promotes social cohesion and equity-or immigrant and refugee families-in the English and support services (Department of Home Affairs, 2022). State-based policies provide frameworks for refugee child supports, being trauma-informed programs and language support programs (Victorian Department of Education and Training, 2023).
Notwithstanding these policies, disparities continue to exist, particularly concerning Indigenous children and families who undergo systemic disadvantage and newly arrived refugee communities whose social isolation and traumatization take away their dignities (Zubrick et al., 2014). Early childhood services are crucial in bridging the gap through culturally safe practice, advocacy, and partnership with families and communities.