Gowrie Partners with Restacking the Odds to Boost Kindergarten Attendance

Gowrie Victoria continued our partnership with Restacking the Odds (RSTO), a Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) initiative developing educator skills in using data to enhance service quality and participation in early learning. Our Broadmeadows Valley (BV) and Carlton Learning Precinct (CLP) services collaborated with RSTO to tackle low attendance, as data showed many children, especially from priority groups, were missing their recommended 15 hours of kindergarten.

RSTO partnered with our service improvement teams including educators, leaders, and management to explore data dashboards. This collaborative approach used continuous improvement tools to unpack data, move beyond assumptions, and pinpoint specific, real-world barriers to attendance.

With these insights, our teams implemented targeted, relational strategies. Broadmeadows Valley built strong relationships via outreach calls, addressing family barriers like food insecurity. A key part was our wayipungitj, Sarah Rawley, using personalised check-ins to build rapport with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Carlton Learning Precinct developed an engaging Bush Kinder program, removing barriers by providing all-weather gear and adding a strong literacy focus.

These efforts achieved significant results: BV saw a 19% participation increase for priority group children—with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s attendance now on track to surpass their peers—and CLP achieved an 11.1% overall increase in children on track for 600 hours.

Sarah, as well as BV Early Years Leader & Engagement Leader Ebony Lee, and CLP Educational Leader Sam Newbury, along with RSTO’s Gemma Davey presented these findings at the ECA National Conference in Perth in front of other professionals in the Australian early childhood sector. The conference was a rewarding experience, with the Gowrie team seeing old friends, listening to inspiring speakers, and networking with passionate educators.

Read more: Gowrie’s Year in Review