Charter Hall supporting vulnerable children in vital early learning

Charter Hall Group is proud to announce it will be providing at least 55 families and their children experiencing significant vulnerability, with fee-free early learning and care over the next two years.

Charter Hall’s donations will see each eligible child receive at least two days of early learning each week with Goodstart, Australia’s largest not-for-profit early learning provider.

It is the first time in Australia that an early learning provider and a landlord have worked together to improve early learning access for children experiencing vulnerability. 

Charter Hall Managing Director and CEO of Charter Hall David Harrison, said partnering with our tenant customer, Goodstart Early Learning, presents another opportunity for Charter Hall Group to build on our long history of supporting local communities to achieve better futures.

“At Charter Hall, we’ve always held a belief that the best investments begin when people and business work together towards shared goals, this includes partnering to have a positive impact on our communities in which we operate,” said Mr Harrison.

“Our partnership with the Goodstart Early Learning Fund is another way we can create strong communities and customer partnerships, while building on Charter Hall’s mission to promote positive social inclusion and help our vulnerable communities.”

In Australia, thousands of children cannot access early learning and care because of their family circumstances – putting them at a disadvantage early in life. The Early Learning Fund aims to address this by acting as a ‘safey net’ when there is no government assistance available, or it has been exhausted. 

Travis Butcher, Fund Manager for the Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT (CQE) said the partnership is a fantastic way to support our largest tenant customer, Goodstart, to provide social and educational benefits to the children that can access this program through the Early Learning Fund.

“We know many of the children set to benefit from this funding are the very children that are attending our CQE owned assets where Goodstart operates its early learning programs,” said Mr Butcher.

“We’re proud to be part of a solution that is creating more inclusive communities, where no child in Australia misses out on vital access to early learning and care before they start school.”

Goodstart CEO Julia Davison said she’s thrilled to be working with our existing partner, Charter Hall, to make a real difference in the lives of children thanks to this philanthropic funding.

“There are many barriers for children and their families – who are experiencing vulnerability – which can stop them attending early learning and care – and cost is on the top of the list,” said Ms Davison.

“The Early Learning Fund, provides fee-relief so that children can access two days of early learning, and we know the most vulnerable children gain the most from participating in our high quality and inclusive programs ahead of starting school.”

Background:

Children experiencing vulnerability are the most at risk of being developmentally vulnerable by the time they start school and all evidence shows that once a child starts school behind, they often never catch up.

The Early Learning Fund started in 2015 and in 2021, it supported more than 1000 children attending both Uniting and Goodstart early learning centres, thanks to philantrophy, corporate funding and Goodstart’s workplace giving program, Giving@Goodstart.

Behind the Early Learning Fund are three of Australia’s largest not for profits – The Benevolent Society, Goodstart Early Learning and Uniting (NSW/ACT). The Benevolent Society oversees and manages the Fund and Goodstart and Uniting are program partners who identify and offer support to eligible children. All administration and management costs are covered by Goodstart and Uniting. This means 100% of funds raised directly covers each child’s early learning expenses.