1.2 Impact on Children and Families

Housing and economic issues have the potential to influence children’s development, learning, wellbeing and engagement in early childhood education settings. Economic issues may lead to difficulties in covering costs of food, health care, transport, and schooling while issues around housing may impact children’s regularity in routine activities, sleep, family life, and participation in early education (AIHW, 2022).

Changing houses regularly may influence children’s ability to develop meaningful relations with educators and other children. Parents’ stress levels will also increase due to housing and economic issues that may impact family relations negatively (AIHW, 2025). Educators should refrain from judging irregular attendance and tiredness of children and parents as a result of lack of family interest.

1.3 Social Policy and Australian Responses

Australian policy actions in relation to economic disadvantage involve financial subsidies and those that facilitate increased access to affordable ECEC. The CCS makes the cost of ECEC services cheaper for eligible families, while ACCS helps to make ECEC accessible to those who are facing temporary economic difficulties. In Victoria, Free Kinder is a funding scheme for eligible children for a kindergarten program (Australian Government Department of Education, 2026a, 2026b; Victorian Government, 2026).

🔎 Learn More

Child Care Subsidy – Australian Government ← https://www.education.gov.au/early-childhood/providers/child-care-subsidy

1.4 Strategies for Practice

• Build strengths-based relationships: Develop respectful relationships without making assumptions about families' financial circumstances (Australian Government Department of Education, 2026a).
• Reduce financial barriers: Provide affordable or free opportunities so children can participate equally (Australian Government Department of Education, 2026b).
• Provide predictable routines: Consistent routines and supportive relationships can provide security during family instability (AIHW, 2022).
• Connect families with services: With family permission, provide information about financial, housing and community support services (Australian Government Department of Education, 2026a).
• Promote inclusive participation: Work with families and professionals to identify and address barriers to children's participation (Australian Government Department of Education, 2026b).

1.5 Community and Professional Partnerships

• Services Australia: provides financial assistance and manages the Child Care Subsidy; educators can provide information and referrals (Services Australia, 2026).
• Financial counsellors: Support families experiencing financial difficulty with financial information and options.
• Housing and Homelessness Services: Assist families experiencing housing insecurity and can be accessed with family consent (Victorian Government, 2026).
• Family support workers/social workers: Support families experiencing complex financial or social circumstances while maintaining confidentiality.
• Community organizations: Connect families with local services and support networks.

1.6 Resources for Educators and Children

Projects, Programs and Websites

• Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) – Supporting Families to Navigate Tough Times: Provides resources about financial and housing insecurity and strengths-based family support (AIFS, 2024).
• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) – Housing Stress: Provides Australian information and data about housing stress and children's wellbeing (AIHW, 2022).

• Raising Children Network – Money Management for Children: Provides age-appropriate information about money, needs, wants, saving and spending (Raising Children Network, 2026).
• Australian Government – Additional Child Care Subsidy: Provides information about additional financial assistance for eligible families (Australian Government Department of Education, 2026).

Children's Storybooks

Children's Videos, Educational Programs and Podcasts

• Play School – Helping Hands: Explores helping, cooperation and seeking support (ABC Kids, n.d.).
• Play School – Me & My Place: Explores different homes and living environments (ABC Kids, n.d.).
• The New Home – Play School: Explores adapting to a new environment with support from others (ABC Kids, n.d.).
• How to Teach Your Children about Money – ABC Melbourne: Provides ideas for teaching children about money, needs and wants (ABC Melbourne, 2021).

Using the resources to build understanding, empathy and resilience

Children can learn about various family situations via storytelling, play and media, without being stigmatized by these activities. Using open questions like "How do you feel as a character?" or "Who was there to assist?" may foster empathy, comprehension and resilience (AIFS, 2024; AIHW, 2022).