Research snapshots
Research snapshot
Teachers and Parent Views on Children's Additional Health and Development Needs - Implications For Use of School and Community Services
Research suggests that 1 in 5 children entering school have additional health and developmental needs that can have a profound impact on their school experiences.
Research snapshot
Can the Neighbourhood-built Environment Make a Difference to Child Development?
Where we live impacts our health and wellbeing. The neighbourhoods in which children live are among the most important contexts for time spent outside of home and school.
Research snapshot
The Mental Health of Australian Children: A Dual Continuum
Mental health interventions usually focus on reducing symptoms of psychological conditions.
Research snapshot
Factors That Help or Hinder Children With Additional Needs to Succeed at School
This narrative review aims to understand what can help or hinder transitions to school for children with additional needs.
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
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
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.