Why STARS for Kids?
Some children need more support to grow and learn well
Every 9 minutes in Australia, a child is born who may face challenges in their development—such as learning to talk, understanding others, or conditions like autism.
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By the time they start school, almost 1 in 4 children are not ready in the way they need to be. This means they may find it harder to learn, play, and keep up with other children (Australian Early Development Census, 2025).
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For some groups of children, the number is even higher—about 1 in 3. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from families who speak a language other than English, children living in the country or remote areas, and children from low-income families.
Why early support for children matters
Children develop best when they have the right support at the right time. For children experiencing challenges with learning, communication, or behaviour, early and responsive support can help them thrive and reduce the likelihood of health, learning, or mental health difficulties later in life (Metzler et al., 2017; Ports et al., 2019; Shonkoff et al., 2012).
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Providing support early not only gives children and families the best chance to build on their strengths, but is also more effective and sustainable. In Australia, investing in early support could save an estimated $15.2 billion each year compared to the cost of delayed intervention (Teager et al., 2019).
Focusing on potential, not problems
Most research about a child’s first 2,000 days of life from pregnancy to starting school has focused on risks, like Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and how to reduce them. While this is important, recent research (including our own research) shows that looking only at risks like ACEs doesn’t always help health workers understand the full picture for each child and family (Cibralic et al., 2022; Kelly-Irving & Delpierre, 2019).
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Families, communities, and services are now calling for a different approach - a strengths-based approach. This means focusing not only on problems, but also on what’s going well. It includes creating Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), supporting strong family relationships, and making sure services work together with families (Masten, 2015).
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Strengths-based care doesn’t ignore the challenges families face. Instead, it looks for the positive things like supportive communities, caring adults, and strong family bonds that help children and families do well even during tough times (Thurber et al., 2020). This approach brings hope and can lead to better outcomes for children and families.
Families need better support systems
Many families find it hard to get the help they need for their children’s development. Australia’s child and family service system can be confusing, with services that don’t always work together.
Some families end up missing out on important care, like developmental checks or early support, especially if they live far away, speak a language other than English, or come from different cultural backgrounds (Woolfenden et al., 2014; 2016; 2020).
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To fix the gaps in the current system, we need new ways of supporting families - ones that are based on strong evidence and make it easier for all families to get the right help at the right time. By combining new tools and ideas like digital technologies and community-based care, we can build a flexible, modern system that gives all families access to support, no matter their background.
