Building the early learning system that Australia’s children need.

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) is conducting a briefing at Parliament House Canberra on Thursday 12 March 2026, hosted by the cross-party led Parliamentary Friends of Early Childhood:

The path forward: How we can build the early learning system that Australia’s children need.

Anne Hollonds AO, Chief Executive of ELACCA, and former National Children’s Commissioner (2020-2025) said: ‘This is a critical time for reform in early childhood education and care, with a large number of regulatory changes and Parliamentary inquiries underway.

‘We are delighted to announce that Senator the Honourable Jess Walsh, Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth, will be speaking.

‘There will also be an expert panel with Laureate Professor Karen Thorpe from University of QLD sharing international evidence on the critical factors in early childhood education and care that contribute to positive child development outcomes. Penny Dakin, Executive Director Communities at Minderoo, will outline options for an independent National Early Childhood Services Commission developed by Thrive by Five alliance experts.

‘In 2025 the community was shocked to learn about the systemic weaknesses in child safeguarding in the early childhood education and care sector across Australia. Governments and service providers are addressing these serious systemic issues, and there is much more to do.

‘This event is focussed on the opportunities we have with decades of evidence, the opportunities to build the early learning system that Australia’s children need.’