Indigenous children in Australia, particularly in remote and regional areas, are more likely to be behind non-Indigenous children when they begin their education. This is why the federal government announced on Aug. 4 its investment of more than $120 million to expand existing early learning services and trial a new “explicit teaching” early learning model. The announcement forms part of the Australian government’s latest effort to “close the gap” between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said, “Disadvantaged children benefit the most from quality early education and care, yet their participation lags, especially in remote communities.” “Reviews over many years have clearly shown that the best way to make sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island kids succeed is by getting them into quality programs early on in life.” Programs that already demonstrate success in lifting participation are the focus of the measure to scale up these …