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Early Learning Matters Week Wrap Up Event—Address

Senator the Hon Dr Jess Walsh  Minister for Early Childhood Education Minister for Youth Labor Senator for Victoria Senator the Hon Dr Jess Walsh, Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, delivered an address at 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…
Early educators around the world feel burnt out and devalued. Here’s how we can help

Early educators around the world feel burnt out and devalued. Here’s how we can help

South Australia’s royal commission into early childhood education led by Julia Gillard has released an interim report. The key recommendation is preschool for all three-year-olds  (in a move similar to other states). But the report notes…
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,…
The voice of educators: Exhausted but hopeful

The voice of educators: Exhausted but hopeful

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) was invited to participate in the federal government’s Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra from 1–2 September 2022 to represent the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. Ahead of the summit, we…
Where to for the registration of early childhood teachers

Where to for the registration of early childhood teachers?

Pathways to professionalism and equal status, as well as a nationally consistent approach, are among the aspirations for professional registration of early childhood teachers. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MARIANNE FENECH looks at a review of teacher…
Cole is a rarity in his chosen field

Cole is a rarity in his chosen field

Cole Oakes is a recent graduate who shares his story as a male, in the early childhood education and care sector (ECEC) and encourages other males who are passionate about early childhood education to be a part of a fulfilling role. Cole also…
Leading the future of early childhood education

Leading the future of early childhood education

LEANNE GIBBS is widely known and respected for her clarity and insights on leadership in early childhood. Her masterclass—Growing great leadership—was held on day zero of the 2019 ECA National Conference. It explored some of the pressing…
Whats the story with child care costs

What’s the story with child care costs?

The last week has seen a flurry of media releases and reports on the cost of child care and whether the new Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is achieving its goals of making childcare more affordable and boosting workforce participation. The conclusions…
Wage-rates

The wage rates are too low and turnover is too high

The Australian Labor Party’s election promise to work out with the early childhood sector how they can facilitate a 20 percent wage increase over eight years is a bold and very welcome move that will generate far more economic benefits than…
Ethics in action

Ethics in action

We are surrounded by ethics every day in every setting, whether it be a decision or situation. But what about applying ethics in early childhood education and care?  ‘I believe children benefit from being around self-respecting adults’—Lilian…
AJEC-JB-Blog

Australia’s educational leaders in ECE: What do we know so far?

PROFESSOR JOCE NUTTALL shares key findings from her research ahead of her presentation at the 2019 AJEC Research Symposium in Melbourne. What is the role of the educational leader in an early childhood service? What kinds of professional…