Thousands of government documents expose serious regulatory failures in ACT early childhood education and care.
Communities across regional Victoria are dealing with a devastating emotional and practical toll from recent bushfires and floods, with children often the forgotten victims as families struggle with getting their lives back on track.
With over 40 years of experience in early childhood education, I have witnessed firsthand the joys and challenges faced by families and educators across Australia. My journey has taken me through diverse settings, from bustling metropolitan centres to quiet regional communities, and from for-profit organisations to passionate not-for-profits. For eight years, I had the privilege of teaching at TAFE, preparing future educators to make a difference.
Across early childhood settings, educators are reporting a rise in big emotions, sensory-based distress, and behaviour that seems to escalate faster than it once did. The increase is not due to a lack of skill within the workforce. It reflects the growing complexity of children’s developmental and sensory needs, combined with the heightened expectations placed on educators. In these moments, one skill consistently protects safety, reduces escalation, and strengthens relationships. Professional bravery.
New analysis of best practice approaches in early childhood development reinforces the critical role of relationships, cultural safety and high-quality play-based learning in supporting children’s wellbeing across Australian early learning settings. Recent sector commentary has also drawn attention to the evidence guiding high-impact practice.
Western Australia has marked the start of the 2026 school year with a major step forward in early childhood education, the launch of the Cook Government’s free Full-time Kindergarten Pilot across five public schools.
Now in its third year, Free TAFE continues to provide fully subsidised pathways into early childhood education and care, supporting both aspiring educators and a sector in ongoing need of workforce growth.
Australia is seeing a renewed surge in people choosing to study teaching, offering a promising outlook for the future of the profession.
Wellbeing remains a cornerstone of quality early childhood education and care, and leaders are being urged to act now to strengthen the support available to their teams.
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