Early Learning Matters Week begins: celebrating the people shaping Australia's future

This week marks the beginning of 2026 Early Learning Matters Week, a national celebration recognising the extraordinary contribution early childhood education and care makes to children, families and communities across Australia.

Now in its ninth year, the week provides an opportunity to acknowledge the educators, teachers, educational leaders, service leaders and approved providers whose work lays the foundation for children's lifelong learning, health and wellbeing.

Across the country this week, services will celebrate in different ways. Some will invite families into their learning environments, others will showcase children's projects, host community events or simply take a moment to recognise the dedication of their teams.

While every celebration may look different, they all share a common message.

Early learning matters.

At the heart of every early learning service are the relationships that help children feel safe, secure and confident to explore the world around them.

Every conversation, story, investigation, creative experience and moment of play contributes to children's learning and development. Through these everyday interactions, educators help children develop confidence, curiosity, resilience, empathy and a sense of belonging.

These moments may appear small, but together they create the building blocks for lifelong learning.

Behind them is a highly skilled profession that observes, plans, reflects, adapts and responds to each child's individual strengths, interests and needs.

Early Learning Matters Week is also an opportunity to recognise the people who make this work possible.

Over the past year, the sector has continued to navigate significant change. Educators and leaders have embraced new reforms, responded to evolving regulatory expectations, strengthened child safety practices, supported families through changing circumstances and continued to deliver high-quality education and care every day.

It has not always been easy.

Yet despite the challenges, services across Australia have remained focused on what matters most, creating environments where children are safe, supported and able to thrive.

That commitment deserves recognition.

For many families, early childhood education and care provides the support they need to participate in work and community life.

For children, however, it represents something much greater.

It is often where lifelong friendships begin, confidence is nurtured, curiosity is encouraged and a love of learning starts to flourish.

It is where children learn to solve problems, negotiate with others, express their ideas, build resilience and discover their unique strengths.

These experiences have a lasting impact, extending well beyond the early years and into school, adulthood and the wider community.

Early Learning Matters Week also provides an opportunity for services to share the remarkable work taking place every day with families and their local communities.

Whether through children's learning stories, family events, community partnerships or simply opening conversations about the value of early childhood education, the week helps build a broader understanding of the professionalism, knowledge and care that underpin the sector.

It is a reminder that high-quality early learning is built on far more than routines and supervision. It is grounded in intentional teaching, meaningful relationships, inclusion, collaboration and an unwavering commitment to supporting every child to reach their potential.

As celebrations take place across Australia this week, Early Learning Matters Week offers a timely reminder of the profound difference the sector makes every single day.

It is an opportunity to celebrate not only the learning taking place in services, but also the educators, teachers and leaders whose passion, expertise and dedication continue to shape the lives of children and families.

Because while Early Learning Matters Week may only come around once a year, the impact of early learning is felt every day, in every service, every community and every child whose future is strengthened through quality education and care.