Children's Ground is redefining First Nations futures

Children's

Ground

Children’s Ground is redefining First Nations futures with a bold, 25-year strategy led by community, for community.

Transformative gains in education, employment, and wellbeing are already visible. With a $10 million commitment from the Goodman Foundation, the movement is scaling its evidence-based work to drive lasting, intergenerational change for First Nations communities.

14%-68% increase in children aged 0-5 years accessing early learning and culturally-centred education
87% of families reported that children’s physical and emotional health and wellbeing have improved
$10 million, five-year commitment from Goodman to support strategic growth.

Dismantling intergenerational inequity

The Children’s Ground approach is led, implemented and evaluated by First Nations communities facing injustice and inequity. It plans to shift communities from a place of intergenerational inequity to one of intergenerational opportunity and wellbeing.

This long-term strategy is already showing transformative results. In Central Australia Mparntwe (Alice Springs), evidence demonstrates how Children’s Ground’s 25 year approach has made important progress in early childhood education, health, employment, culture and local empowerment.

Using a system that prioritises First Nations governance, families in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) are working alongside their children in health and education initiatives. Between 2017 and 2022, the number of children aged 0–5 years engaged in early learning programs increased by 57%, and 87% of families reported that children’s physical and emotional health and wellbeing have improved.

Employment outcomes also shifted dramatically. From 2020 to 2022, 83 local First Nations people gained employment through Children’s Ground, many for the first time.

Systemic change requires visionary support

To fund this scale of systemic change, visionary support is vital. In late 2023, the Goodman Foundation committed $10 million over five years to Children’s Ground—the largest philanthropic commitment in the not-for-profit’s history.

Goodman’s contribution is unlike traditional funding models like grant funding.

“What’s so remarkable about Goodman’s support is its flexibility. It’s not about ticking boxes; it’s about enabling long-term, community-led change,” says Jane Vadiveloo, CEO of Children’s Ground. “We can allocate resources to where they are needed most, whether that's early childhood education, health promotion, or economic development.”

With Goodman’s support, Children’s Ground is now expanding its impact to more communities in Mparntwe, building a future where First Nations systems of governance and knowledge are at the core of community wellbeing.

As the Children’s Ground approach progresses, the goal is clear: a generation of First Nations children growing up strong in both their culture and in Western knowledge systems, leading their communities towards a brighter future.

Children's Ground is redefining First Nations futures

Children's

Ground

Children’s Ground is redefining First Nations futures with a bold, 25-year strategy led by community, for community.

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