Evaluation of the KindiLink Pilot Initiative in Western Australia Volume 1: Overview and Key Findings

Document Type

Report

Publisher

Department of Education of WA

School

School of Education

RAS ID

46881

Comments

Barratt‐Pugh, C. Barblett, L., Cooper, T., Knaus, & McLean, C. (2018). Evaluation of the KindiLink Pilot initiative in Western Australia Volume 1: Overview and Key Findings. Department of Education of Western Australia https://www.education.wa.edu.au/dl/7lpmn3

Abstract

This study is an evaluation of the largest educator‐led playgroup initiative in Western Australia. The implementation and evaluation of KindiLink, a supported playgroup, targeted at Aboriginal 1 children and their families, is both timely and significant, given the current research on the education and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and their families. The Closing the Gap report (Commonwealth of Australia, 2016) identified the importance of early education for Aboriginal children both in terms of participation and achievement. On purely economic grounds, Heckman (2011) found that the combination of early childhood education and parent support produced a 7‐10 % return for every dollar invested in saved social cost in later life. Although there has been improvement in some areas, research clearly demonstrates that in comparison with Australian children in general, Aboriginal children have lower levels of school attendance and poorer educational outcomes (Department of Social Services, 2015; Department of Education and Training, 2016).

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