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Early Childhood is the first level of lifelong education, accepted as ranging from birth to 8 years of age. It covers the period before school, preschool and the first years of schooling, sometimes called Infants schooling in the Australian system. It includes child development, parental assisted learning, preschool education in either Child Care Centres or Preschools and extends into the first formal years of education.
There are multiple pages that can be accessed using either the page number boxes above or the other links.
This page looks at Early Childhood development support and education across all states & territories. A link is also provided for Australian Government information.
The Second Page looks at Australian Government bodies, agendas, support programs and more, Indigenous Early Childhood programs and education, Child Care Providers and programs in other countries.
The Third Page looks at national bodies, publications, other general information and also has a link to conference information.
Other pages linked to this area include Primary Education and Early Childhood Resources.
States & Territories
Non-government Preschool/Day Care/Kindergarten sites are too extensive and too changeable to effectively be listed. To find a suitable centre use the following.
Talk to people in your neighbourhood about where their children attend Preschool/Day Care/Kindergarten and see which they recommend. Check other, possible options in the telephone book/local newspapers and magazines, through church affiliations and other sources you consider acceptable;
Contact ones you believe worthwhile and arrange to visit and talk to them about their program.
Note the level of educational programming being used, care provided, stimulus, activities, … , then make a decision based on as many facts as you can.
If it doesn’t work as well as you think, do not persevere, but change to another one [if possible] until both you and your child are happy with a centre.
The same points also apply when using a government preschool, especially where there is choice among them, or a choice between them and a non- government preschool.
With these [☚] you need to go to the individual council site [usually listed on the right hand side]. Most will then be found under Services or Community Services.
Australian Capital Territory
- Early Childhood Schools Framework
Information and a PDF file of the Framework. - Government Preschools
- Kids at Play
‘The Kids at Play program includes vans equipped with play equipment and staffed by qualified play coordinators. The vans provide regular play opportunities in the early childhood setting, [specifically catering for children 2 - 6 years] to encourage children and their parents to be involved in active play.’ - Office for Children, Youth and Family Support
‘The Office works in partnership with the community to provide care and protection services to children and young people, and family and community support to meet the needs of the people of Canberra.’ The Children’s Policy and Regulation Unit, ‘is responsible for licensing and monitoring a diverse range of childcare services to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Children and Young People Act 2008’. - Playgroup ACT
Information, contact, services. - Preschools - Where are they Located
?
Find preschools in the ACT. Download information about the preschool in the ACT Territory at Jervis Bay. - The Best Start in Life
Download a paper on this topic here.
New South Wales
- Bodallamu Transition Backpack
‘The Bodallamu transition backpack [named from the Dharawal word meaning a safe place for little children to learn] is a culturally inclusive resource designed to smooth the preschool to Kindergarten transition for Aboriginal children.’ - Children’s Care [NSW]
Extensive listing accessed by local government districts or by specialist types including Family Day Care, Preschool, Long Day Care and more. -
Community Child Care Co-operative NSW
‘We aim to inform and inspire the children’s services sector, and influence government policy, practices and programs so that children within NSW have access to quality children’s services that meet the needs of their communities’. - IPSU NSW
‘Supporting Indigenous children and staff in children’s services in NSW and the ACT.’ -
NSW Family Day Care
Has information for both parents and potential carers including the effect of the new requirements. - NSW Local Government Preschools
Listed under local government districts. [☚] - Playgroup NSW
Information, contact, services.
Northern Territory
- ABRACADABRA !
‘A multimedia software program that helps early childhood teachers reinforce foundation literacy skills among emerging learners. Designed by the Centre for Learning and Performance at Concordia University in Canada, ABRA is based on the best knowledge available on the science of learning acquisition, brain development and foundations of literacy in early childhood.’ Trialled in NT. - Child & Youth Health
This unit runs a number of programs for Children and Youth. - Early Years
‘The Department of Education and Training recognises the importance of the early years of a child’s life and its impact on a child’s health, wellbeing and lifelong learning. The ‘Early Years Framework’ aligns the department’s priorities to support young children and their families to achieve the best from their early childhood years.’ Covers ages from 3 to 8. - Let’s Start
‘The Let’s Start Program aims to help parents support children as they negotiate their way through preschool into primary school. We work with children aged 4-6 years and parents or main carers.’ Free program. - NT Local Government Preschools
Listed under local government districts. [☚] - Playgroup - Northern Territory
Information, contact, services. - Raise a Reader
‘The Raise a Reader parent information kit is a resource for parents with young children. The kit includes information and tips on how to introduce reading to young children up to eight years of age.’ - Strong Beginnings
An explicit guide to quality practice in the early years. ‘Aims to be a practical and explicit interpretation of the Northern Territory Curriculum Framework for the pre-compulsory years of preschool and transition.’ Download by section in PDF format.
Queensland
- Early Phase of Learning
‘Early childhood education in Queensland state schools is characterised by quality curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and reporting that responds to the capabilities of young children from Preparatory to Year 3. Education Queensland is committed to providing children with learning experiences that engage young minds, promote positive dispositions to lifelong learning and ensure a continuity of learning experiences through the early years of schooling.’ - Find an Early Childhood Education and Care Service
Has links to search engines both for Queensland and nationally. - Foundations for Success
‘Guidelines for an early learning program in Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities.’ - Kindergartens and Preschools
Brief history of these from 1907. - Office for Early Childhood Education and Care
‘The Office for Early Childhood Education and Care is committed to providing Queensland children with the flying start to life they deserve. The Office is responsible for the strategic management and implementation of early childhood reforms, coordination of early childhood education and care programs, regulation and supporting quality improvement for all child care services in Queensland and working with stakeholders and service providers to meet Government goals, commitments and targets’. -
Playgroup Queensland
Information, contact, services. - Preparatory Year
‘Prep replaced preschool from 2007 and the starting age for Year 1 will increase by six months from 2008. Prep is not compulsory and early childhood education and care providers will continue to offer programs for children not enrolled in Prep.’ - Preschool Curriculum Guidelines
‘Provide teachers and administrators with a framework to assist in developing, implementing and evaluating an effective preschool curriculum.’ - Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline
‘The Queensland kindergarten learning guideline provides advice for planning, interacting with children, monitoring and assessing, and sharing information in kindergarten contexts’. Download either the Guideline and/or the Guideline Companion via these links. - Queensland Local Government Preschools
Listed under local government districts. [☚] - Queensland Prep Year Kit
Downloadable PDF documents.
South Australia
- Be Active PlayTime
‘Be active PlayTime is a physical activity/physical play program for children aged 0 to 5 developed by the Office for Recreation and Sport [ORS]. Be active PlayTime is a play-based program because it is widely believed that much of children’s early learning occurs through play.’ - Early Childhood Connections Newsletter
‘Early Childhood Connections is the South Australian cross agency newsletter providing information about the Government’s Early Childhood Strategy for children aged birth to eight years and their families.’ Subscribe for Free. - Early Childhood Services in South Australia
‘In South Australia early childhood education and care services are provided, licensed or sponsored by the Department of Education and Child Development. These services are available for young children from birth, to before starting school, plus childcare for children attending school. A range of services [ ] include preschool education; childcare; services to support your child’s health and wellbeing in addition to services that support you in your role as a parent.’ - Early Years [DECD]
‘The Early Years Curriculum Unit is responsible for a range of programs including Learning Together Program and Learning Together @ Home Program, Preschool Bilingual Program, Early Years Literacy Program and Reading Recovery. Information about current programs, or those recently completed, can also be obtained by clicking on the links in the navigation bar on the left’. You can also access information on Individual Learning Plans for Aboriginal Learners and check out an extensive collection of Links. - Playgroup South Australia
Information, contact, services. -
Preschool and Kindergarten -
Government of South Australia
Provides information on ‘Eligibility and attendance, Integrated centres and services, Waiting lists, Parent involvement, Immunisation, Health, wellbeing and special needs’. - SA Local Government Preschools
Listed under local government districts. [☚] - Thinkers in Residence
Linked to the report noted above. Find about the work of Fraser Mustard and download his Final Report or the related document, Port Augusta Early Childhood Development Models. - Why is Early Childhood Important ?
Information about provision for early childhood outside the home.
Tasmania
- Discovery Early Learning Centres
‘We offer Long Day Care, Pre-Kindergarten programs, After Kindergarten Care and Outside School Hours Care including Before School, After School and Vacation Care’. - Early Learning
‘Early years programs designed to nurture and stimulate young children’s learning, support their families and engage communities.’ Department of Education, Tasmania. - Early Years Parents & Friends Inc
‘Aim to improve collaboration and connection between stakeholders to address the “triple care challenge” of quality, cost, access & infrastructure.’ - Finding a Child Care Service
Search Engine to find a child care centre for your child. - Playgroup Tasmania
Information, contact, services. - Tas. Local Government Preschools
Listed under local government districts. [☚] - Tasmanian Child Care Unit
‘Strives to support the development of high quality child care programs and services in Tasmania.’ - Tasmanian Early Years Foundation
‘Supports and promotes the wellbeing, development and learning of Tasmanian children up to the age of 6 years. The Foundation provides opportunities, in partnership with the Tasmanian community, to support children and their families and raise awareness and a commitment to the early years of childhood [birth - 6 years].’
Victoria
- Best Start
‘Best Start is a Victorian government early years initiative. It supports families, caregivers and communities to provide the best possible environment, experiences and care for young children in the important years from pregnancy to school. Best Start aims to improve the health, development, learning and wellbeing of all Victorian children [0-8 years].’ Their Links page is worth visiting. - Blueprint for Education and Early Childhood Development
‘The Blueprint for Education and Early Childhood Development is a comprehensive five year plan that brings together our Department’s new vision and mission, along with a number of challenging goals and strategies to help us deliver these reforms’. Download the document here. - Child Care Centres Association
Information and links. - Community Child Care Association [CCC]
‘An independent non-profit organisation that provides training, resources, advice and advocacy.’ - Early Childhood 0-8
‘Services are available to assist you and your child during early childhood [0-8 years].’ - Early Childhood Connections
‘The Centre for Community Child Health [CCCH] has been at the forefront of Australian research into early childhood development and behaviour for over two decades. CCCH conducts research into the many conditions and common problems faced by children, such as obesity, language and literacy delay, and behavioural concerns, that are either preventable or can be improved if recognised and managed early. A particular focus of CCCH’s work is supporting and strengthening community-based professionals and organisations in their work with families to bring about the best outcomes for children’. - Early Childhood Learning
General information and the specifics of the Early Years Learning and Development Framework and Transition to Primary School. - Early Childhood Professionals
‘In your dedicated area of our website you will find a wide range of information and resources relating to the care and education of children 0-6 years of age. Each of the tabs takes you to content specific to the area you are working in, from kindergarten and child care, to management and child health.’ - Early Childhood Services Management
‘Services are available for children and their families before they go to primary school.’ - FUSE
This opens to the Early Childhood section of the FUSE site. - Playgroup Victoria
Information, contact, services. - Shine Magazine
‘Shine [formerly Education Times] is the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s monthly publication’. - Victorian Local Government Preschools
Listed under local government districts. [☚]
Western Australia
- Child Care [WA]
‘The Department for Communities has responsibility for child care licensing as well as intiatives for Western Australian parents and families.’ A wealth of information available. - Early Childhood Education
In Western Australia. Their Resources for Parents are worth checking. - Playgroup WA [Inc.]
Find what a playgroup is and benefits for both parents and children. Their services, talks and other information, read their newsletter or magazine, find playgroups in Western Australia and more. - WA Local Government Preschools
Listed under local government districts. [☚]