Download the AEDC National Report 2024 and the AEDC Key Findings 2024 fact sheet from the new AEDC website.
The new and improved AEDC website includes an enhanced search function, making the data and resources easier to find and use. Publicly available AEDC results can be accessed through the Community Data Explorer.
What do the results say?
The 2024 AEDC results show the percentage of children developmentally vulnerable has increased across all five AEDC domains since 2021. However, when compared to the baseline established in 2009, there remains an overall increase in the percentage of children developmentally on track on five domains.
Domain results
Physical health and wellbeing: 10.0 per cent of children are developmentally vulnerable on the physical health and wellbeing domain, an increase of 0.2 percentage points since 2021.
Social competence: 10.7 per cent of children are developmentally vulnerable on the social competence domain, an increase of 1.1 percentage points since 2021.
Emotional maturity: 10.0 per cent of children are developmentally vulnerable on the emotional maturity domain, an increase of 1.5 percentage points since 2021. This represents the largest increase in developmental vulnerability among all domains.
Language and cognitive skills (school-based): 7.7 per cent of children are developmentally vulnerable on the language and cognitive skills (school-based) domain, an increase of 0.4 percentage points since 2021.
Communication skills and general knowledge: 8.9 per cent of children are developmentally vulnerable on the communication skills and general knowledge domain, an increase of 0.5 percentage points since 2021.
Summary indicator results
- Developmentally on track on five domains (OT5): The percentage of children developmentally on track on five domains decreased from 54.8 per cent in 2021 to 52.9 per cent in 2024, however it remains above the baseline set in 2009 (50.7 per cent).
- Developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains (DV1): The percentage of children developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains increased from 22.0 per cent in 2021 to 23.5 per cent in 2024.
- Developmentally vulnerable on two or more domains (DV2): The percentage of children developmentally vulnerable on two or more domains increased from 11.4 per cent in 2021 to 12.5 per cent in 2024. This is the highest level of developmental vulnerability in two or more domains across all six AEDC collections.
The new AEDC website
The new AEDC website is a significant resource for government services, communities, researchers and educators working to improve developmental outcomes for children.
Data and resources from the AEDC website can be used for planning and monitoring children’s development. Here, you'll discover:
- the latest data for your community as well as trends over time
- how to access the AEDC data for research
- how AEDC data is used for early years planning and action
- evidence to inform your policy and planning to support children’s healthy development
- your Community Profile
- how to interpret AEDC data to help inform your policy and planning.
For more information visit www.aedc.gov.au.