Australians are being asked to help the government formulate an early years road map for children at the most critical stage of their learning and development.
The public consultation comes ahead of a major Early Years Summit happening at Parliament House in Canberra on February 17, to be attended by more than 100 industry experts and sector leaders.
On Friday, the government published a discussion paper on the subject with a call for public submissions. It hopes to get feedback from families, caregivers, educators, child and maternal healthcare providers, social workers, early years experts and anyone else who wants to contribute to improving the lives of Australian children.
"We want all Australians to have the opportunity to provide input to this strategy and invite everyone to share their ideas and feedback," Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said in a statement.
"Getting it right in the early years means not only that children and their families are supported to thrive in these critical years of development but also that any investments we make now can have broader, sustained benefits for our society and economy across current and future generations."
The early years of a child's life are considered the most critical period, where they will develop at a faster rate than at any other time in their lives, Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly said.
It is important to incorporate health, education and family support services into any strategy, she added.
"We know that 90 percent of brain development happens in the first five years, which is why it's so important we have a holistic approach to the early years.
"Our children are our most precious resource, investing in them now is an investment in our future."
Between the public consultation and the summit, the government is hoping to capture "insights and aspirations" to help inform a "whole-of-commonwealth" strategy to ensure Australia's children have the best start in life, irrespective of where they are born or raised.
There is also a survey available throughout February on the Department of Social Service's website and a series of roundtable discussions held nationally.
