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
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
KindiLink (WA)
The 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that there were 88,000 Aboriginal people living in WA, nearly 4 per cent of the State’s population.
Community story
Connecting Community for Kids (WA)
Connecting Community for Kids is a collective impact initiative aimed at improving the wellbeing and development of children and families in the Cockburn and Kwinana areas of Perth.
Community story
Seeds of Change In Whittlesea (VIC)
Whittlesea is on Melbourne’s outskirts about 20 kms from Melbourne’s CBD. It is a large municipality covering urban growth areas and rural areas.
Community story
Families As First Teachers (NT)
AEDC results for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander children in the Territory’s very remote communities revealed a very high proportion of children vulnerable in one or more domain.
School stories
School story
Port Augusta-Quorn Education Partnership (SA)
The Port Augusta and Flinders Rangers (Quorn) communities are located around 300km north of Adelaide, in regional South Australia.
School story
St Joseph’s School – Hindmarsh (SA)
St Joseph’s School – Hindmarsh is a Catholic school in an inner-city suburb in Adelaide.
School story
Independent Schools (TAS)
In Tasmania all kindergartens are co-located in schools. In 2012, 8.1% of Tasmanian children were developmentally vulnerable on the emotional maturity domain, which is higher than the national figure.
School story
Kingston Primary School (WA)
Kingston Primary is a rapidly growing school in Australind, WA.
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 Data Guidelines
The AEDC Data Guidelines outline the protocols for managing, accessing, using and disseminating the AEDC data.
Report
AEDC Data Dictionary 2019
The Data Dictionary provides technical reference information for researchers and data users, about the Australian version of the Early Development Instrument (AvEDI).
Report
Technical Report: Calculation of the Critical Difference (March 2022)
This report outlines the process of calculating critical difference of AEDC data over time. This involves four key stages of analysis which are described within.
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
Project Amendment Form
An amendment form must be submitted if any aspect of the project changes after the project is approved. These include changes to the proposed project, details of data users, research and publication plan, and variables requested.
Form
Microdata Application Form
This form contains the data variables available to applicants and should be submitted when requesting deidentified unit record data, including microdata for data linkage purposes.
Form
Adverse Event Notification Form
This form must be submitted in the case of an adverse event. These include any unforeseen or unexpected event that results in having negative impacts on key stakeholders of the AEDC, including data users, states and territory governments, children, teachers and schools.
Form
AEDC Annual and Final Report Form
This form is required to report on project progress for those who have requested data via applications.
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.