The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) occurs across Australia every three years in schools with the next collection scheduled for Term 2, 2021. Key dates for 2021 data collection is on this AEDC 2021 data collection poster. The census gathers information about how young children have developed prior to their first year of full time school.

Australian Government owns and funds all AEDC activities and resources in all states accross Australia. Read more on the history of AEDC on AEDC national website.

2021 data collection

Schools with kindergarten students participate in the census. Kindergarten teachers in all school sectors across NSW will be completing a research tool in term 2, 2021 based on observations of the children in their class. The AEDC involves the collection of data across five developmental domains:

• Physical Health and Wellbeing
• Social Competence
• Emotional Maturity
• Language and Cognitive Skills (school-based)
• Communication Skills and General Knowledge

Further information is available on the National AEDC website. NSW’s 2018 outcomes are summarised in this infographic.

The video below provides an overview of the process through which AEDC data is collected.

Events

AEDC 2021 Conference - National Virtual Conference 15 – 19 March 2021

Conference theme:

Trends in Childhood Development – The Future of Australia

Visit AEDC national conference website to submit an abstract, register to attend or access more information about the conference.

Resources

2021 Data Collection Key Dates Posters

Download AEDC key dates for 2021 data collection and term 2 2021 data collection posters

Professional Learning

If you are interested in hosting an AEDC data workshop in your school or community, please contact the NSW AEDC State Coordinator at aedc@det.nsw.edu.au or 02 7814 3083

Practitioners in government and non-government schools, as well as early childhood education and care centres can enrol and complete AEDC Online Professional Learning (OPL) course.

NSW Department of Education employees can access the course by searching the learning catalogue on MyPL (Course title: Australian Early Development Census Online professional learning and Course code is RG11777).

Non-Department of Education employees (including employees of Catholic Schools NSW, Association of Independent Schools NSW, Local Councils, non-government organisations and Early Childhood Education Services) can use this guide to create a non-DoE account. Follow the steps outlined to register and complete the course.

Reports

Reports at a school, community, state and national level, show the number and percentage of children considered to be developmentally vulnerable, at risk or on track across the 5 developmental domains.

If you would like to request access to your school profile contact aedc@det.nsw.edu.au

Community level AEDC results and other useful demographic information are publicly available through theReports at a school, community, state and national level, show the number and percentage of children considered to be developmentally vulnerable, at risk or on track across the 5 developmental domains. See download box below for examples of intiatives that were infomed by community level reports.

Domain Guides

These resources can support you to understand how the AEDC can be used to inform early childhood and curriculum planning, quality improvement and strengthen partnerships with families and the community.

Acknowledgement

Western Australian Department of Education developed AEDC resources in partnership with the Association of Independent Schools Western Australia, Catholic Education of Western Australia, the New South Wales Department of Education and the South Australian Department for Education and Child Development. The partners acknowledge the assistance and expertise of the Telethon Kids Institute in the development of the resources.

Australian Government funds all AEDC activities and resources in NSW.

Contact us

aedc@det.nsw.edu.au or 02 7814 3083