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A major report on Australia's child care services has recommended that access to nutritionally adequate food be included in national quality standards.

Researchers from The University of Queensland, in partnership with nonprofit social impact organization Social Ventures Australia, examined food insecurity and food provision in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings over the past two years.

Karen Thorpe, a professor at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute, said one in 10 child care centers did not provide food.

"Food provision is not required by national law, nor monitored in the quality assessment of child care services," Thorpe said. "These findings reveal a significant gap in Australia's early childhood system.

"We recommend Australian governments recognize access to adequate, nutritious and culturally appropriate food as a fundamental condition for children's learning, development, well-being and participation in early childhood education and care.

The report, titled "Food where it matters most," is the first national mapping of food provision in full-day child care services for children from birth to age 6.

The most significant gaps were found in small rural towns where only 58% of services provided food.

Tasmania had the lowest rate of food provision in Australia—66% of full-day child care centers provided food, compared with 87%–94% in other states and territories.

Social Ventures Australia director of early childhood Emma Sydenham said the findings pointed to an opportunity for governments to act.

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