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
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.