Research snapshots
Research snapshot
Early Developmental Outcomes of Australian Children From Diverse Language Backgrounds at School Entry
This research snapshot reports on outcomes of bilingual students in Australia across major domains of early childhood functioning.
Research snapshot
Pathways Through School for Children With Additional Needs
This research snapshot presents a conceptual model developed to help understand the impact of additional needs on early school functioning.
Research snapshot
English Proficiency at School Entry for Bilingual Children
This research explores the relationship between English language skills at school entry and attendance at different types of early childhood education and care settings, like preschool and day care centres.
Research snapshot
Early Childhood Development and Mental Health Outcomes
Optimal development during early childhood plays a key role in long-term mental health and social-emotional wellbeing.
Fact sheets
Fact sheet
Choosing effective interventions
This fact sheet focuses on responding to AEDC data.
Fact sheet
Comparing AEDC results over time
This resource outlines how to compare results over different collections over time.
Fact sheet
Guide to Referencing the AvEDI
This fact sheet provides those using the AEDC data with guidelines to reference the AEDC.
Fact sheet
Validity and reliability of the AvEDI
The Australian version of the Early Development Instrument (AvEDI) is the instrument that teachers fill out in the AEDC program to collect information on the children’s development.
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
Early Learning Strategy (SA)
AEDC data showed higher proportions of developmental vulnerability in the physical health and wellbeing, social competence and emotional maturity domains for children in South Australia.
Community story
A Village for Every Child (ACT)
Belconnen is a large region in Canberra’s northwest. Between 2018 and 2021 there was a statistically significant increase in children considered to be developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains.
Community story
Gungahlin (ACT)
Gungahlin is a rapidly growing region in Canberra’s far north. Between 2015 and 2018, there were increases in vulnerability across all five domains, with significant increases in physical health and wellbeing, and social competence. This highlights a need for further early childhood development support.
Community story
Belconnen (ACT)
Belconnen is a large region in Canberra’s northwest. There was a significant increase in children developmentally vulnerable on two or more domains between 2012 and 2018, highlighting the need for further support.
School stories
School story
Westfield Park Primary School (WA)
Westfield Park Primary School serves a highly transient community in Perth’s south-east.
School story
Ashdale Cluster Attends the AEDC National Conference (WA)
Along with ten other WA school leaders and teachers, four Deputy Principals were selected to attend the AEDC National Conference to learn about what is having an impact on early years’ outcomes.
School story
Longreach State School (QLD)
The remote farming community of Longreach lies in central west Queensland.
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.
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.
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.