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Policy in action: Elevating children’s voices at Gowrie Victoria

Policy in action: Elevating children’s voices at Gowrie Victoria

Recent events concerning young children’s safety and wellbeing in Australian early childhood education and care (ECEC) services have raised important questions about how we engage children and hear their voices. Actively involving children…
Opinion Editorial – Early Childhood Education and Care

Opinion Editorial – Early Childhood Education and Care

As the CEO of the leading national peak body dedicated to the best interests of young children, the focus on early childhood education and care (ECEC) in this election is very welcome.  To hear the Prime Minister say during the recent leaders’…
Early Learning Matters Every Day, But It’s Critically Important Right Now

Early Learning Matters Every Day, But It’s Critically Important Right Now

Early Learning Matters Week reminds us of the critical importance of high-quality early childhood education and care. As the week comes to a close, it is a timely reminder to consider the significance of current policy interest in the early…
Setting the record straight on misguided claims about ECEC and the value of qualified educators

Setting the record straight on misguided claims about ECEC and the value of qualified educators

The piece ‘Maybe childcare staff need fewer degrees?’ by Aaron Patrick in the AFR 12 July 2023 is both ill-informed and misleading. If you haven’t seen it, here is the abridged version – the commercial childcare industry is charging…
A story of self-care within early childhood education and care

A story of self-care within early childhood education and care

I was very fortunate to attend the Early Learning Summit hosted by The Front Project in Canberra late last year. On the journey home, I found myself reflecting on the conversations and future visions for our sector along with a lingering question:…
Reflections on the Early Years Summit

Reflections on the Early Years Summit

I recently participated in the Early Years Summit, convened by Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth MP and Minister for Early Childhood Education and Care Anne Aly MP, to begin work on the national Early Years Strategy. This summit…
Empowered to impact change: Learning together through Communities of Practice

Empowered to impact change: Learning together through Communities of Practice

Early childhood education is a constant revolving door of new information, insightful understandings, complex perspectives and thought-provoking research. Our role as early childhood educators and teachers is to dive headfirst into this pool…
Jobs and Skills Summit Reflections

Jobs and Skills Summit Reflections

It was a privilege to attend the Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra earlier this month, which hosted 142 delegates, including members of National Cabinet, the state and territory premiers and chief ministers, industry groups, unions, employers,…
Election message from Hon Amanda Rishworth MP

Election message from Hon Amanda Rishworth MP

This 2022 federal election we are calling on candidates across politics to support high quality early learning access, affordability, inclusion and stability for every child.    On 2 May 2022 we invited cross-party leaders with early…
Exploring reconciliation and cultural awareness in early childhood

Exploring reconciliation and cultural awareness in early childhood

Employees across Early Childhood Australia (ECA) have been involved in National Reconciliation Week projects connected to ECA’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Our group has developed a survey for early childhood educators to explore attitudes…
In the defence of care

In the defence of care

Consider the term early childhood education and care. In my experience, including the word care has produced some strong opinions within our sector. I have heard many times that if we are to strive for professional recognition as a collective…
Summing up a professional life #contributiontoecec

Summing up a professional life #contributiontoecec

Catharine Hydon speaks to Jean Eden who is retiring after 44 years in the early childhood sector. A chance conversation got me thinking. How does an early childhood professional sum up their career as they prepare to step into retirement? How…