Improving the early life outcomes of Indigenous children: implementing early childhood development at the local level

Early childhood development is a comprehensive approach to policies and programs for children from prenatal development to eight years of age, their parents and caregivers. It is aimed at ensuring all children have an equal chance to thrive and grow.

It encompasses the interrelated or holistic aspects of children's development which includes the physical, social-emotional and language-cognitive domains of development. 

This paper outlines what we know about the size of the gap in early childhood development between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and the social determinants of early childhood development. 

Report: http://www.aihw.gov.au/uploadedFiles/ClosingTheGap/Content/Publications/2013/ctgc-ip06.pdf