Early Childhood Australia Events

    • 2023 Education and Care Awards Gala
    • 2023 Live Wires Digital Technology Forum
    • SPROuts Practice Awards
    • AJEC Research Symposium
    • 2024 ECA National Conference
    • ECA Colloquia on Leadership and Ethics logo
    • Reconciliation Symposium
    • 2023 ECA National Conference

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2023 Live Wires Digital Technology Forum

In partnership with the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, ECA is pleased to announce the launch of the 2023 Live Wires Digital Technology Forum.

The Live Wires Digital Technology Forum is a unique, one-day professional development opportunity designed for early childhood educators, educational leaders, and developers and researchers of young children’s digital learning experiences.

This is an opportunity to connect with other educators and experts and discuss the latest thinking in early childhood theory, practice and pedagogy in digital technologies, with hands-on practical sessions. The forum will cover areas of challenge and concern as well as current and future directions.

Click here to learn more and register.


2024 AJEC Research Symposium

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) is pleased to announce the 2024 AJEC Research Symposium, Listening, empowering and innovating, will convene virtually on 8–9 February 2024. Through the theme of ‘Listening, empowering and innovating’, we invite researchers, policymakers and early years professionals to consider how research, theories, practices and methodologies are designed and enacted alongside children and other stakeholders to recognise where they are in the world.

Find more details about the 2024 AJEC Research Symposium here.


2024 ECA Reconciliation Symposium

As part of our ongoing commitment to acknowledging reconciliation in the early years, ECA hosted the 2024 Reconciliation Symposium in Canberra, Ngunnawal Country, 3–4 May 2024 to explore reconciliation within the sector. Click here to learn more.


2024 ECA National Conference

Realising the Vision: an integrated future for the early years

The ECA National Conference was held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland, from Tuesday 17 September to Friday 20 September 2024.

The early years are at the forefront of policy debate and reform across Australia and globally. This is an extraordinary ‘moment in time’ to shape the future—to build a universal platform for early childhood education and care, to stabilise and recognise the early childhood workforce, and to better integrate supports for both children and families across allied health, social services and major service systems such as the NDIS . It is critical that reform is driven by a clear vision that puts children at the centre of policy and service design. It is also important that the early childhood profession is actively engaged in both decision-making and implementation.

We are also on the cusp of creating a reconciled nation that recognises, values and celebrates the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and identities. The early childhood sector has an important role in this—through embracing cultural responsiveness and inclusive practice to foster children’s connection to culture and identity, while also forming respectful partnerships to empower First Nations communities and families.

To learn more about the 2024 ECA National Conference click here.


AJEC Invited Lecture

The 2023 Inaugural AJEC Invited Lecture was presented virtually by Dr Francis Bobongie-Harris on Tuesday 25 July 2023. Click here to learn more.


Other conferences and events

Welcome to the calendar of early childhood conferences and events. If you would like to receive the latest early childhood news as well as up-to-date calendar entries, subscribe to WebWatch today. Or stay posted on key ECA Events when you sign up for the ECA Events newsletter.

Events by location

All states and territories

Australian Capital Territory

The Early Childhood Australia (ECA) ACT committee is pleased to be organising the 2023 Education and Care Awards Gala on Friday 10 November 2023. This event will promote, recognise and celebrate the exceptional work undertaken by the ACT education and care sector. Join us for the award ceremony with a three-course dinner and live entertainment. Click here to find out more about this event, nominate an individual or service and to register.