August 2025: AEDC Findings Impact NSW Policy & Practice
Webinar
Missed the live webinar? A captioned recording will be available to view in the coming days
Details
The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) collects data on five key areas, or ‘domains’, of early childhood development: physical and mental wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, communication skills and general knowledge. Early childhood is a time of rapid development that provides the foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing. Understanding how children are faring helps to ensure the right kinds of services, supports and resources are available to help children and families thrive. The AEDC data has informed key initiatives and policies such as the Closing the Gap Target for First Nations children and The Early Years Strategy. It also provides valuable community level data to inform practitioners and providers working in early intervention and family strengthening programs, as well as child protection and out-of-home care.
In this FACSIAR Lunch and Learn webinar, Dr Mary Taiwo, AEDC NSW state Coordinator with NSW Department of Education, presented the 2024 AEDC findings for NSW and shared how they can be used by practitioners and policy staff. She explained how the data is collected and how it can be accessed, and also shared key outcomes from the 2024 AEDC for NSW. Mary also presented case studies that show AEDC data has been successfully used in the early years context. Lauren Anderson and Toni Kember from the NSW Department of Education discussed the broader implications of the AEDC findings and how they are informing changes to key educational policies and programs including early learning environments and the Brighter Beginnings program.
The webinar was chaired by Jessica Stewart, Executive Director, FACSIAR, Department of Communities and Justice
Presentation
New findings from the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC): Implications for policy and practice in NSW
- Dr. Mary Taiwo – AEDC NSW state Coordinator, NSW Department of Education
Download Mary Taiwo’s Presentation slides (PDF, 2.6 MB)
(For permission to use or reproduce content from these slides, please contact the author)
Panel discussion
- Toni Kember – Director Early learners, Public early childhood education and care (ECEC), Early Childhood Outcomes, NSW Department of Education
- Lauren Anderson – Director Early Childhood Development, Early Childhood Outcomes, NSW Department of Education
Additional resourcesAustralian Early Development Census (AEDC) resources
- About the AEDC
- Download the The AEDC NSW 2024 data report
- Download AEDC national report
- Rewatch sessions from the AEDC NSW Research Symposium 2025
- Download AEDC domain guides and other resources
- AEDC community grants case studies
- AEDC Microlearning modules
- Download AEDC Community level data for your community
Upcoming webinar
https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/dcj/dcj-website/documents/about-us/facsiar/research-seminars/past-seminars/2025/Dr_Mary_Taiwo_presentation_slides.pdf