Early Learning Matters week is coming – Save the Date to celebrate Learning through Play

Early Learning Matters Week, organised by Early Childhood Australia (ECA), will be back for its fifth year from 17-21 October 2022. 

This year’s theme is Learning through Play, bringing together early childhood educators, parents, carers and community leaders around Australia to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of play based early learning and the difference the profession makes.

More broadly, Early Learning Matters Week aims to recognise and raise the profile of early childhood education and care in children’s development and wellbeing in Australia, and provides a great opportunity to spread the word about how high-quality early education and care supports children to be confident, enthusiastic learners, building a foundation for wellbeing and achievement throughout their lives.

“We can’t wait to see the activities that services will have in store to promote the importance of early learning during the Early Learning Matters Week,” communication from ECA read.

Early Learning Matters Week first started in 2018, as part of the Early Learning: Everyone Benefits campaign, supported by a coalition of more than 20 early childhood service providers, peak bodies and research and advocacy groups.

Initially, the primary purpose of Early Learning Matters Week was to better inform political decision-makers – across the party spectrum and across the nation – about the benefits of early learning. ECA has now expanded its horizons to include families and communities in Early Learning Matters Week, in recognition of the role early learning services play in supporting families and building our society.

Early Learning Matters Week 2021 was a huge success. This video brings together the lovely messages, videos and images that were shared during the campaign last year.

More information about the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Early Learning Matters Week events is available here. To stay up to date about Early Learning Matters week, please use this link.