Early Childhood Education & Child Care News
Tuesday, January 27
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VECRA issues Emergency Action Notice over unsafe sleep practices

The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) has issued an Emergency Action Notice to Chawla Group AU PTY LTD, the approved provider operating Kindoo Childcare Centre in Ferntree Gully, following the identification of serious non-compliance relating to unsafe sleep and rest practices.

2026-01-27 08:00:19

by Fiona Alston

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Workforce

CEO Annie Bryce steps down from leading Edge Early Learning

After eight and a half years at the helm of Edge Early Learning, Annie Bryce has stepped down from her role as Chief Operating Officer (CEO), reflecting on what she described as “one of the most rewarding experiences” of her career.

2026-01-27 07:15:02

by Fiona Alston

Workforce

Practice

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Research

Australia Day Honours 2026: Two early childhood leaders recognised nationally

Two long-time contributors to early childhood education have been recognised in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List, highlighting the national impact of work that often happens quietly, in services, research settings and community organisations. 

2026-01-27 07:00:00

by Fiona Alston

Practice

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Three back-to-school conversations to boost children’s resilience and coping skills 

As families across the country gear up for a new school year, Triple P – Positive Parenting Program experts say three simple conversations this week could help most children feel a little more confident and prepared, whether they're excited, nervous, or somewhere in between. 

2026-01-27 08:30:34

by Contributed Content

Latest Stories

Active zones and mini-retreats: Designing preschools that support neurodivergent children

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Research

Active zones and mini-retreats: Designing preschools that support neurodivergent children

Inclusive preschool and long day care environments play a central role in children’s engagement, wellbeing and smooth transitions into school. Emerging research suggests that when environments are designed to reduce sensory stress and increase children’s choice, participation improves, not only for neurodivergent children, but for every child. 

2026-01-27 08:15:49

by Fiona Alston

$3 million boost to support flexible early learning options for NSW families

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$3 million boost to support flexible early learning options for NSW families

More than $3 million has been allocated to early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across New South Wales, as part of the third round of the state’s Flexible Initiatives Trial,  a program designed to support working families by delivering more convenient, community-responsive early learning options.

2026-01-27 07:30:19

by Fiona Alston

Naming private body parts isn’t optional: Why accurate language belongs in personal safety education

Research

Policy

Practice

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Workforce

Naming private body parts isn’t optional: Why accurate language belongs in personal safety education

Teaching children the correct anatomical names for their private body parts can feel confronting for some adults. Yet evidence and child protection experts continue to point to the same conclusion: accurate language supports children’s safety, health and autonomy and reduces the secrecy and shame that can prevent children from speaking up.

2026-01-23 08:06:52

by Fiona Alston

Incident prevention and management: Protecting children through proactive safety practices

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Workforce

Incident prevention and management: Protecting children through proactive safety practices

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are entrusted with one of the most important responsibilities, ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of children. Effective incident prevention and management practices are vital to meeting this responsibility, and are mandated under both federal legislation and the National Quality Framework (NQF).

2026-01-23 08:06:51

by Fiona Alston

Embedding inclusive practices: practical tools to support children with disability in ECEC settings

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Practice

Embedding inclusive practices: practical tools to support children with disability in ECEC settings

Creating inclusive early learning environments is a foundational element of quality education and care. For early childhood education and care (ECEC) and outside school hours care (OSHC) providers, ensuring the inclusion of children with disability is both a professional obligation and a legislative requirement.

2026-01-23 08:06:51

by Fiona Alston

Popular

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26 January: Reflecting with respect in early childhood settings

2026-01-25 11:25:04

by Fiona Alston

Policy

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Research

Workforce

Victorian Parliament releases key paper on child safety and reform in ECEC

2026-01-23 09:52:28

by Fiona Alston

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Family-owned Childcare business welcomes back Subiaco community after devastating fire

2026-01-27 11:30:33

by Contributed Content

Upcoming Events

February 16, 2026

STEM Mathematics Workshop

February 17, 2026

STEM Hour: Drawing as a Tool for Children’s Early STEM Thinking

March 3, 2026

Responding to the 2024 Australian Early Development Census – building effective connections and partnerships

March 3, 2026

Online Workshop: Inquiry-Based STEM Projects Through Educator Experiences

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Doing work that matters: Two decades in early childhood education and care

2025-06-24 09:30:07

by Contributed Content

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Building harmony: How Hey Dee Ho strengthens early learning through music, connection and curriculum integration

2025-06-24 09:15:31

by Fiona Alston

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Workforce

Educator wellbeing on the agenda at Workforce and Wellbeing Forum as Anthony Semann prepares to host panel of sector experts

2025-06-17 20:00:27

by Jason Roberts

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Marketplace

How Xap became more than just a tech partner for One Tree Community Services

2025-06-10 09:30:17

by Fiona Alston

Marketplace

Practice

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Supporting early learning growth: How Mollard Property Group helps not-for-profits turn vision into reality

2026-01-27 08:30:26

by Fiona Alston

Workforce

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Skilled migration opportunities for early childhood teachers to teach in Victoria

2026-01-13 07:00:40

by Fiona Alston

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Marketplace

Research

Introducing the Orbit Mobile STEM Shuttle: Taking imagination and innovation on the road

2025-12-19 08:00:28

by Contributed Content

Marketplace

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AI and early childhood development: What Nanit’s $50M raise signals for the future of parenting tech

2025-12-19 07:45:31

by Fiona Alston

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Opinions

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Workforce

Student placements are not a staffing strategy: The missing piece from our workforce conversation

In our previous role as Directors of early childhood services we regularly welcomed university pre-service teachers. We did so deliberately. Placement students brought contemporary pedagogical thinking, current research, and fresh questions that challenged and enriched our educator teams. Their presence prompted us to articulate why we teach the way we do, not just how.

2026-01-20 08:00:17

by Contributed Content

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Research

Workforce

The hidden workload: Why educators shouldn’t be responsible for cleaning

With illness rates rising and workforce pressures intensifying, the case for a national Childcare Cleaning Standard has never been clearer.

2026-01-19 07:45:10

by Contributed Content

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Practice

Research

Curiouser and Curiouser: What Alice helps us see about who should teach

This article follows on from my earlier piece, Who should work with young children?, where I explored how the dispositions we value in those who work in early childhood education, shape not only who enters the profession, but how the work itself is imagined. This is where that thinking has brought me.

2025-12-19 07:15:35

by Contributed Content

Workforce

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Research

When did it start to go wrong?

Looking back at the changes in how we deliver early learning since the 1990's,  I'm back tracking what sent us down the proverbial toilet. Trying to think objectively about it , it's evident to me that when the focus shifted to parents instead of children everything we did and how we did it changed. The more early learning became competition for warm bodies, the bigger the shift in who really mattered at kindy.

2025-12-18 08:00:46

by Fiona Alston

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