“We acknowledge that strong pedagogical and courageous leadership is essential to support and promote the rights and voice of children.”

 

As the national peak body for early childhood, ECA is a regular, and trusted, contributor to the public policy debate on all matters affecting young children (birth to eight years) and their families.

ECA stands for and represents the interests of:

  • early childhood education and care (preschool, long day care, family day care, occasional care, mobile services and specialist programs)
  • early years of schooling
  • outside school hours care (OSHC)
  • child and family centres, programs and support services
  • inclusion support
  • social and emotional wellbeing
  • maternal & child health services
  • parent education (birth to eight)
  • other policy areas affecting children and their families

We specifically acknowledge the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families, and the past and current injustices and realities for them around Australia.

Our work is informed by our:

  • commitment to children’s rights
  • knowledge of early childhood development, learning and pedagogy
  • commitment to an inclusive and just society
  • respect for the rights and aspirations of families
  • the active involvement of our members

Strategic Directions

ECA’s Strategic Directions (2025-2030) is a significant document that outlines the future direction of the organisation and what we stand for.

ECA’s goals for 2025–2030 are:

  • Priority 1: A voice for young children
  • Priority 2: Build professional and sector capability
  • Priority 3: Partnerships for impact
  • Priority 4: Leader in professional learning and events
  • Priority 5: Sustainable and effective

We hope that you will be inspired by our goals and values, and that you will be a key part in the success of Early Childhood Australia.

Our values

  • CHILD-CENTRED Children are citizens of today and tomorrow.
  • LEADERSHIP We demonstrate clarity of purpose in every action and decision.
  • TRUST Our work is based on evidence and expertise.
  • INTEGRITY We are ethical, transparent and accountable.
  • INCLUSION Every child and every person has the right to be valued and to participate.
  • DIVERSITY We recognise and value difference in ways of being and cultural knowledge.

Early Childhood Australia’s Code of Ethics also provides a set of statements about appropriate and expected behaviour of members of a professional group reflecting our values.

Collaboration strengthens our advocacy

One of ECA’s key values is collaboration. This approach is employed across ECA’s work. For example, we form Advisory Groups and Project Reference Groups of members and stakeholders to help inform our work.

To inform policy submissions and media communications we have established stakeholder groups that participate in regular meetings. We also draw upon our active state and territory committees to inform policy positions.

We use online surveys and workshops to help inform and provide feedback on policy submissions, publications and events.

ECA’s prime leadership role comes from supporting and maintaining the rights and voice of children. We acknowledge that strong pedagogical and courageous leadership is essential to this advocacy.

External Advocacy

ECA provides strong internal and external advocacy to promote the rights and wellbeing of young children.

Our external advocacy includes:

Internal Advocacy

  • providing representation on all significant decision-making bodies that impact on early childhood education and care delivery.
  • bringing together stakeholders with common goals.
  • ‘influencing the influencers’ including organisations and people.
  • regular meetings with members of Parliament and Government Ministers and their staff with the objective of influencing Government policy.
  • regular meetings with Government officials.
  • funding and conducting and publishing research.

Support for professional advocacy

ECA also recognises that promoting the rights and voice and young children does not only require high level advocacy, but also empowering early childhood services and educators to take leadership at the local level and supporting them to deliver programs which also meet these objectives. That’s why part of our goals are to ensure early childhood education and care is provided by a qualified, specialised and skilled workforce. This includes building leadership capabilities across the early childhood education and care sector.

ECA regularly visits and meets with services and educators to showcase best practice and engage and consult on issues concerning the sector. We hold service visits, conferences, committee meetings and advisory and reference groups to inform our approach.

Contact

If you would like to contact ECA about our advocacy please email policy@earlychildhood.org.au.