Several national and state policies support cultural inclusion in early childhood education. The Closing the Gap framework sets targets for the improvement of education, health, and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Australian Government, 2020). The NQS requires services to respect and support the cultural identity of children and families (ACECQA, 2018).

The Australian Multicultural Statement restates the commitment of the nation to diversity, social cohesion, and equal opportunity (Department of Home Affairs, 2017). The doing of the Refugee and Humanitarian Program is to assist newly arrived families with settlement (Refugee Council of Australia, 2021), while state-based programs such as NSW Start Strong funding aim to improve early learning access for CALD and disadvantaged children (NSW Department of Education, 2023).

However, despite policies that exist to achieve greater equity, studies have shown that inequities in educational outcomes for First Nations and refugee-background children still persist, emphasizing the need for culturally safe and community-led interventions (Harrison & Sellwood, 2016).