Research snapshots
Research snapshot
The Relationship Between Early Childhood Education and Care and Children's Development
A variety of Early Childhood Education and Care services are available in Australia, including preschool (sometimes called kindergarten), playgroup, and centre-based childcare.
Research snapshot
Taking a Strengths-based Approach to Child Development in the AEDC: the Multiple Strength Indicator
To better measure those children who have developmental strengths, this research sought to create a strength-based indicator from the Early Development Instrument that could be used within the AEDC program.
Research snapshot
Mental Health and Children's Early Learning
Early learning skills, like using language, problem solving and communication, help children to thrive and reach their full potential at school.
Research snapshot
Does Mental Health Competence Promote Children's Academic Achievement?
This study explored whether mental health competence at school entry leads to improved academic outcomes in year three, taking into account the other influences on children’s academic skills, such as family circumstances.
Fact sheets
Fact sheet
AEDC Key Findings 2024
The AEDC Key Findings 2024 fact sheet summarises the results for the 2024 collection, the sixth AEDC collection to take place since it's beginning in 2009.
Fact sheet
Identifying and Planning for Children’s Development
This factsheet provides an overview of the different ways information about children’s learning and development can be identified and measured.
Fact sheet
Schools sector messages
The AEDC is a reliable measure of child development across five domains. This document summarises some key information for schools.
Fact sheet
AEDC policy placemat
A summary of what has been learned from AEDC research and results, and the key policy and research gaps remaining.
Reports
Report
Privacy Statement
The Department of Education is committed to the protection of privacy and must comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) when handling any personal information and sensitive information.
Report
AEDC Data Services and Charging Practices
The services offered by the AEDC Data Management Team are based on the principle that AEDC Data Management Services are designed to promote broad access to and appropriate use of AEDC data.
Report
AEDC Data Application Assessment Guidelines
These guidelines set out the procedures and operating environment used by the AEDC Data Management Agency when assessing applications for data.
Report
AEDC 2022 Data Dictionary
The Data Dictionary provides technical reference information for researchers and data users, about the Australian version of the Early Development Instrument (AvEDI).
Community stories
Community story
Breaking Barriers (NSW)
Kurri Kurri is a small rural town in the Hunter Region, about 150km north of Sydney. AEDC results showed 18.5 per cent of children vulnerable on one or more domains, with 11.1 per cent of children developmentally vulnerable in physical health and wellbeing.
Community story
Community Skills 4 Kids Café (TAS)
The Waverley Community Skills 4 Kids Café operates in Waverley, Tasmania.
Community story
New Partnerships in Jondaryan (QLD)
The Jondaryan community is made up of the rural town of Oakey and its south-east and western surrounding areas. The community has a population of 7,585 people.
Community story
Helping Families Living With Adversity in Rocklea-Acacia Ridge (QLD)
The Rocklea-Acacia Ridge community is made up of the southern suburbs of Rocklea, Archerfield and Acacia Ridge in Brisbane. AEDC data showed 59.3% of children were developmentally vulnerable on one or more domain, however this decreased to 30.6% over a decade.
School stories
School story
Ringarooma Primary School (TAS)
Play-based movement improves gross motor and language skills.
School story
Bass Valley Primary (VIC)
Bass Valley Primary School is in a rural farming area in Gippsland’s Bass Coast community, about 110 kms south-east of Melbourne.
School story
Duncraig Primary School (WA)
Duncraig Primary School is an independent public primary school in Perth’s northern suburbs.
Data stories
Data story
School-based Language and Cognitive Skills: AEDC 2021 Data Story
This data story explores the AEDC language and cognitive skills (school-based) domain.
Data story
National Trends in Child Development: AEDC 2021 Data Story
This data story provides an overview of the first five AEDC collections (2009–2021).
Data story
How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Children?: AEDC 2021 Data Story
This data story explores the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australian children.
Data story
How Can We Improve Equity in Early Childhood?: AEDC 2021 Data Story
This data story explores inequities in children’s development related to social, economic and geographic factors.
Videos
Instrument questions
Instrument questions
2024 Early Development Instrument Questions
The questions and response criteria from the 2024 Early Development Instrument.
Instrument questions
2021 Early Development Instrument Questions
The questions and response criteria from the 2021 Early Development Instrument.
Instrument questions
2018 Early Development Instrument Questions
The questions and response criteria from the 2018 Early Development Instrument.
Instrument questions
2012 Early Development Instrument Questions
This guide contains the questions used in the Australian version of the Early Development Instrument for the 2012 collection.
Technical resources
Technical resources
AEDC SEIFA Reference Tables
These reference tables document outline SEIFA communities and local communities.
Technical resources
AEDC Data Dictionary Reference Tables
These reference tables accompany the AEDC Data Dictionary.
Technical resources
AEDC 2025 Data Dictionary
This Data Dictionary provides a complete reference to the variables contained in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).
Technical resources
Critical Difference Calculator Tool
This tool calculates whether the difference in the % of children who are vulnerable, at risk or on track between two waves of AEDC data is significant.
National reports
National report
2024 AEDC National Report
The 2024 AEDC National Report outlines the results for the 2024 collection and trends over time. The 2024 collection is the sixth AEDC collection to take place since it's beginning in 2009.
National report
2021 AEDC National Report
The national report from the 2021 collection. The 2021 AEDC data shows the majority of children were identified as ‘developmentally on track’ for each of the five AEDC domains.
National report
2009 National Report
The national report from the very first collection in 2009.
Forms
Form
Research Snapshot Template
Template for creation for research snapshots for publication on the AEDC website.
Form
Publication Submission Checklist
This checklist is for Data Users to complete prior to submitting their publication to the Data Management Agency for review.
Technical resources
Critical Difference Calculator Tool
This tool calculates whether the difference in the % of children who are vulnerable, at risk or on track between two waves of AEDC data is significant.
Form
Data Application Checklist
This checklist will help data applicants ensure they have provided all the relevant information for a successful application.
User guides
User guide
User Guide: Early Childhood Services and Schools
This guide leads early childhood services and schools through the steps they might take when thinking about how to respond to AEDC data.
User guide
User Guide: Local Government
This guide leads local government through the steps they might take when thinking about how to respond to AEDC data.
User guide
User Guide: Community Service Organisations
This guide leads community service organisations through the steps they might take when thinking about how to respond to AEDC data.
User guide
User Guide: Policy Makers and Government Executive
This guide leads policy makers through the steps they might take when thinking about how to respond to AEDC data.