A $4 million partnership has been formed to help improve the lives of children and families in the City of Kwinana.

The Minderoo Foundation has given the city a $4.09m grant for it to tackle early childhood development over the next two-and-a-half years.

It comes after the 2021 Australian Early Development Census showed the proportion of Kwinana children assessed as developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains had increased from 24.6 per cent in 2015 to 31 per cent in 2021, while the Statewide result remained at 22 per cent.

Among Aboriginal children in Kwinana, the figure increased from 32.4 per cent to 58.1 per cent.

The city has since been working with local organisations, schools and others to strengthen the local early years system and create better outcomes for children and families.

It will use the Minderoo grant to improve access to transport, food security, perinatal care and community-based child health and development services, and create stronger collaboration between organisations already operating across Kwinana.

The partnership will be implemented over three phases through to the end of 2028.

The first phase will establish a dedicated early years team, carry out an analysis of Kwinana’s early years ecosystem, hold a community summit, launch an early years impact fund, and investigate the feasibility of an Orelia early years hub.

Future phases will focus on strengthening collaborative governance, investing in initiatives and embedding changes that deliver benefits for local children and families.

The initiative aims to ensure more children start school healthy, supported and ready to learn.

Mayor Peter Feasey said the partnership was one of the most significant investments in the city’s future.

“The early years shape the future of every child, and by investing in those years, we are investing in the future of our entire community,” he said.

“This partnership recognises that lasting change happens when communities are empowered to lead local solutions.

“Kwinana has been listening to families, building partnerships and strengthening our early years approach, as is evident in the city’s recently launched early years strategy. Today marks the beginning of the next chapter.”

Minderoo Foundation CEO John Hartman said a child’s early years laid the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing, but achieving the best outcomes for children required collaboration.

“What makes this partnership exciting is that it builds on the City of Kwinana’s leadership and existing strengths across the community,” Mr Hartman said.

“By bringing together local government, families, service providers and community organisations, we can strengthen the systems that support children and create lasting impact.

“Minderoo is proud to back Kwinana’s ambition because we believe communities are best placed to mould the solutions that work for them. Our hope is that this place-based approach can become a model for how local leadership and philanthropy work together to improve outcomes for children across Australia.”

Premier Roger Cook said the initiative between Minderoo Foundation and the City of Kwinana would promote new ways of working to help local children and families thrive.

“One of the key principles is that it empowers community to work together across a range of areas to make real change,” he said.