Research snapshots
Research snapshot
Jurisdictional Differences in Child Development at School Entry - Trends Over Time From 2009 to 2018
Children need a range of skills to succeed at school and achieve positive outcomes later in life.
Research snapshot
Contact With the Child Protection System and Children's Development
Experiences of abuse and neglect in early childhood have detrimental impacts on children’s early brain development, cognitive functioning and psychosocial outcomes.
Research snapshot
Hidden Vulnerabilities in Communities
The effects of growing up in poverty have been well documented.
Research snapshot
The Australian Early Childhood Education and Development Experience (AECEDE) Research Project
Children’s early experiences are fundamental to ensuring healthy development throughout life.
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
2021 AEDC Data Collection Technical Report
This report documents the technical aspects of the 2021 AEDC Data Collection, with a particular emphasis on the documentation of processes, workflows and response dynamics.
Report
2018 AEDC Data Collection Technical Report
This report sets out to document the technical aspects of the 2018 AEDC Data Collection, with a particular emphasis on the documentation of processes, workflows and response dynamics.
Report
Technical Report: Exploring Two New Indices for the AEDC Program
There has been significant interest in the concept of identifying children or communities with ‘strengths’ in child development, and whether certain items from the AvEDI could be used for this purpose.
Report
AEDC 2012 Summary Report
This publication provides the summary results from the 2012 Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) data collection, including comparative data from the 2009 and 2012 collections.
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
Newport Public School (NSW)
Newport Public School is in the Pittwater area of Sydney, about 30 kilometres from the CBD.
School story
Everton Park State School (QLD)
Everton Park is a suburb in Brisbane’s northwest, about 15 kms from Brisbane’s CBD.
School story
Franklin Primary School (TAS)
Franklin Primary School is one of Tasmania’s oldest primary schools, located in the Huon Valley.
School story
Jervis Bay School (ACT)
Jervis Bay School is a community school located in the Booderee National Park on the outskirts of the HMAS Creswell Naval College Grounds.
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
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).
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
Permitted Data User Form
This form must be completed by personnel wanting to access unpublished AEDC data held by their organisation or by a client organisation.
Form
Secure Data Destruction Form
This form must be submitted to confirm that the AEDC data has been destroyed at the conclusion of the research.
Form
Macrodata Application Form
This form must be completed when making a request for access to AEDC macrodata.
Form
Macrodata Application Form - Government Request
Macrodata form for government agencies seeking AEDC macrodata.
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.