Inclusive Practice Framework set to strengthen inclusion in early childhood settings

A new ACECQA-led project aims to enhance inclusive practice across the ECEC sector, aligned with updated national standards.

Why inclusive practice matters

All children and families deserve to feel welcome and actively participate in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings, regardless of their background, abilities, or identity. To help ensure this, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is leading the development of a national Inclusive Practice Framework.

Commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education, the initiative aims to help services across Australia strengthen inclusive practices and better support children and families who experience barriers to access and participation.

What the framework involves

Over the next 12 months, ACECQA will work in partnership with Griffith University, Macquarie University, and Queensland University of Technology to co-design the Framework. The process includes consultation with educators, service providers, peak sector bodies, and inclusion experts, followed by a supported trial phase in selected services.

A suite of free, practical resources will be developed alongside the Framework to help services reflect on current practice and plan for continuous improvement. These tools will build on ACECQA’s existing Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) resources and align with the pedagogical goals of the Approved Learning Frameworks.

“The Inclusive Practice Framework will help services make inclusive practices more visible, intentional, and evidence-informed.”

For more details on the project timeline and partners, visit the Inclusive Capability project page.

Legislative alignment

The initiative coincides with the development of the Disability Standards for Education Amendment Standards 2025, which expand the scope of the original standards to include early childhood education and care services. Under the proposed changes, ECEC providers will be explicitly recognised as service providers responsible for ensuring access and participation for children with disability.

The Inclusive Practice Framework is designed to support ECEC providers in meeting these updated expectations, alongside obligations under the National Quality Framework and the Inclusion Support Program.

ACECQA’s latest news update provides more information about the strategic goals of the framework.

What happens next

The project will unfold in four phases and conclude with a final report and recommendations to the government. Once released, the Framework is expected to strengthen inclusive capability in early childhood settings nationwide, grounded in research, evidence, and the lived experiences of educators, children, and families.

The work complements existing tools released by ACECQA, such as new inclusive practice resources for services, designed to support educators in embedding inclusive approaches.

To follow updates or learn more about inclusive supports, visit the Inclusion Support Program page on the Department of Education website.