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
Brain development in children
This fact sheet outlines the importance of a child's environment in shaping brain development.
Fact sheet
Language Diversity and the AEDC
This fact sheet provides useful information on the considerations when working with AEDC results for communities where many children speak a language other than English.
Fact sheet
Factors found to affect children's success at school
This fact sheet provides insight into research findings based on AEDC data.
Fact sheet
About the AECEDE Research Project
This fact sheet provides information about the Australian Early Childhood Educational Development Experience (AECEDE) Research Project.
Reports
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.
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
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.