ECA Statements
Part of the advocacy work of Early Childhood Australia is to develop position statements for early childhood settings and advocate for the rights of children. This is achieved in consultation with our membership, the early childhood sector, subject matter experts and related organisations.
ECA Statements
ECA Statement on young children and digital technologies
Early Childhood Australia launched the ECA Statement on young children and digital technologies in 2018.
The revised version of the ECA Statement on young children and digital technologies (the statement) has been launched at the 2025 ECA National Conference in October 2025.
The Statement has been updated in consultation with the Digital Policy Advisory Group, and its membership with extensive and current research and practice knowledge, and deep expertise in early learning and digital technologies.
ECA Statement on Play
This Statement considers play and young children aged from birth to eight years. The right to play, however, extends to every child of any age, ability or background and is relevant in schools and other learning environments, services, and communities in which children participate.
In this document, we highlight the crucial role and expertise of early childhood educators and teachers in supporting young children’s play and promoting awareness of its impacts for the whole child. Families, other adults and entities across the community—through their work and in their homes, venues and services—have a role in creating opportunities for play and removing obstacles to play. The Statement and principles have much to offer other settings and services with an interest in promoting the right of every child to play—they contain transferable concepts that can be taken up in ways that honour the children with whom they work and the context in which they operate. All adults have a stake in the protection, preservation and promotion of children’s play-based learning.
Statement on the inclusion of every child in early childhood education and care (Oct 2016)
ECA is committed to the inclusion of every child in early childhood education and care. Inclusion means that every child has access to, participates meaningfully in, and experiences positive outcomes from early childhood education and care programs. This statement explains inclusion. It outlines why inclusion is important, and it sets out what is required from everyone involved in the delivery of early childhood education and care to ensure inclusion of every child.
Copies of the Statement are available for free to download here.
Please also find the accompanying Factsheet on The experience of inclusion and exclusion in early childhood education and care available for download here.
Position paper on early childhood mathematics.
Early Childhood Australia and the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers are pleased to release a joint position paper on early childhood mathematics.
All children in their early childhood years are capable of accessing powerful mathematical ideas that are both relevant to their current lives and form a critical foundation for their future mathematical and other learning. Access to these ideas through high-quality, child-centred, and strengths-based activities in their homes, communities and early learning settings is a fundamental right for all children. The position paper recognises the importance of the development of young children’s productive dispositions to mathematics and mathematical learning.
Commissioned Reports
Distributional Modelling of Proposed Childcare Reforms in Australia
Early Childhood Australia commissioned a report from the Australian National University (ANU) Centre for Social Research and Methods on the effect of the Government’s proposed Child Care Subsidy on children and families.
