Early Childhood Education & Child Care News
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Australia’s population outlook: What it means for the early childhood sector

The Australian Government’s release of the 2025 Population Statement provides a timely snapshot of demographic change, one with significant implications for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across the country. The latest projections confirm slowing population growth, declining birth rates, and a shift toward an ageing population, reinforcing the need for strategic planning, policy alignment and investment in the early years.

2026-01-13 08:00:47

by Fiona Alston

Workforce

Securing the future: What the NSW community services jobs compact means for early childhood education

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across New South Wales are set to benefit from a landmark reform that brings long-term funding stability and improved job security to the broader community services sector. Announced in January 2026, the NSW Government’s new Community Services Funding Framework and Community Services Jobs Compact will reshape how the government supports frontline services, including those working with children and families.

2026-01-13 07:15:46

by Fiona Alston

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What Australia can learn from the UK’s new inspection framework

As Australia prepares for wide-reaching changes to the National Quality Framework (NQF) in 2026, it is timely to examine how other countries are evolving their approaches to regulation and quality assurance in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Recent updates to the United Kingdom's (UK) Ofsted inspection framework offer key insights for Australian providers, policymakers and sector leaders as they navigate the next wave of reforms.

2026-01-13 07:30:03

by Fiona Alston

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Regional confidence: $6.5M sale of Bendigo childcare centre sets the tone for 2026

The first major early learning property transaction of 2026 has been completed, signalling continued investor confidence in the childcare sector despite changing economic conditions. A purpose-built, fully leased early learning service in Golden Square, a suburb of Bendigo, has sold for $6.5 million, marking a significant start to the year for regional early childhood infrastructure.

2026-01-13 08:00:50

by Fiona Alston

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One in six Aussie children at risk of missing the basics for school: Through the Officeworks Back to School Appeal you can help change that 

As early childhood children prepare to make the important transition into Prep or Grade 1 in 2026, ensuring they have the tools and confidence to start strong is more important than ever. Having access to the basics, from school supplies to uniforms, can significantly influence a child's sense of belonging and readiness to learn.

2026-01-13 08:30:29

by Fiona Alston

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Adapting to a changing hiring landscape: A practical guide for ECEC professionals in 2026

The job search experience in 2026 is becoming more challenging across many sectors, and early childhood education and care (ECEC) is no exception. While workforce shortages persist, so too does increased selectivity in recruitment. For educators, teachers, support staff and leaders seeking new roles or re-entering the workforce, understanding these shifts and responding strategically is essential.

2026-01-12 08:30:59

by Fiona Alston

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Sustaining the spark: How early childhood leaders and educators can avoid burnout

Burnout is a growing concern across the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. From educators and early childhood teachers to centre managers and support staff, the toll of workforce shortages, regulatory demands and the emotional labour of the profession is becoming increasingly visible. As the sector continues to evolve, addressing burnout is not only a matter of wellbeing but also of quality, continuity and retention.

2026-01-12 08:00:31

by Fiona Alston

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Supporting children, families and educators during natural disasters

As bushfires continue to affect communities across Victoria, early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are once again navigating the complex realities of emergency response, temporary closures and trauma-informed support. For children, educators and families, these events can be deeply unsettling, with impacts that reach beyond the immediate fire zones.

2026-01-12 07:45:26

by Fiona Alston

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Edge Early Learning becomes first QLD provider to embed Life Ed wellbeing and safety program across all centres

Edge Early Learning has announced a new statewide partnership with Life Ed Queensland that will see a comprehensive wellbeing, safety and school-readiness program embedded across every Edge centre in Queensland from January 2026, the first early learning provider in the state to take this integrated, whole-centre approach.

2026-01-12 07:30:23

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Looking ahead: What the ECEC sector can expect in 2026

2026-01-12 07:15:47

by Fiona Alston

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NSW regulator permanently closes Sydney childcare service after long-running safety and compliance concerns

2026-01-12 07:00:59

by Fiona Alston

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Food safety compliance made simple: What every ECEC provider needs to know 

2026-01-12 08:00:24

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February 16, 2026

STEM Mathematics Workshop

February 17, 2026

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

February 25, 2026

Skilled migration opportunities for early childhood teachers to teach in Victoria

March 3, 2026

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

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

2025-06-24 09:30:07

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

2025-06-10 09:30:17

by Fiona Alston

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

2025-12-19 08:00:28

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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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Stop scrolling – New videos upskilling parents 

2025-12-17 07:30:27

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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

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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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Let’s not lose the word ‘Children’

Across the early childhood profession, our language is constantly evolving. We reflect deeply on the words we use; how they shape identity, how they frame relationships, and how they influence the way children experience their world. Yet one quiet shift has been occurring in our sector, almost unnoticed: the gradual move away from the word children.

2025-12-18 07:45:13

by Fiona Alston

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Strengthening Early Childhood Education: Insights and reflections

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.

2025-12-18 07:30:05

by Fiona Alston

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