The Mental Models Deep Dive Report identifies 22 prevailing mental models across four focus areas which influence the current early years system and early childhood development outcomes in Australia. These are:   

• Child development and parenting, including the gendered nature of care  

• Proactive, effective governments and policymaking.   

• Breaking cycles of inequity and disadvantage 

• Integrated, connected, and proactive early childhood development systems. 

Mental models about inequity, disadvantage, race and racism (focus area 3) were identified as having a pervasive impact on the current early years system, impacting mental models across all four focus areas. 

The report also examines the evidence of effective strategies to shift mental models. These case study examples aim to either directly alter mental models or influence the conditions that uphold them. 

Shifting mental models is one of the most complex and challenging of systems change efforts. It is also one of the greatest levers for realising transformational change. It requires a multi-faceted approach addressing attitudes (motivation), behaviour (capability) and organisational/environmental conditions (opportunity) across multiple points and levels in the system.

With consistent commitment and a long-term collaborative approach from a coalition of actors, change is possible.  

Note: Some of the mental models set out in the report contain deficit-based language and stigmatising terms which represent the lived experience of people who participated in the deep dive consultations. Please take care when engaging in this content, particularly if it resonates closely with your own lived experience.