Australian Early Development Census
The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) is a national census of early childhood development based on data collected about children in their first year of full-time school, also known as transition.
Read more about the AEDC data collection on the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) website.
The AEDC was collected for the first time in 2009 and is repeated every three years.
The results can help communities understand what’s working well and what needs to be improved to better support very young children and their families.
AEDC data collection
The AEDC measures how children have developed when they start school, across five key areas of development referred to as domains: physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills,and communication and general knowledge.
Read more about the AEDC development domains on the AEDC website.
Each of these domains are closely linked to the predictors of good adult health, education and social outcomes.
Each census year transition teachers complete a survey using their knowledge and observations of the children in their class.
Information collected by their teacher makes an important contribution to understanding the development of Australian children during their early years.
AEDC data is not reported for individual children. It is only reported for groups of children at community, school and state or territory levels. Families do not receive individual reports for their children.
AEDC results
The 2018 AEDC National Report presents data for all four data collection cycles in 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018.
You can view the 2018 AEDC National Report on the AEDC website, where you can also find data tables, maps and graphs for the Northern Territory (NT) and community profiles for areas within the Territory.
To request additional data contact the NT AEDC manager at the details listed below.
School profiles are available to schools only and are not released publicly.
Using the AEDC data
Anyone can use the AEDC data. The data has been used by a range of organisations to inform early childhood policy and practice, including schools, early childhood services, health and community services, policy makers, researchers and parents.
The AEDC can help strengthen links between schools, preschools, playgroups, local government agencies, health centres, libraries and other local organisations and encourage them to explore new ways of working together.
Go to the AEDC website to read community stories and school stories about how communities and schools have used the AEDC data.
A range of NT resources are being developed to support early childhood services, schools, community services and governments to interpret and use the AEDC data.
Email the NT AEDC manager at the details below to request support with, or to share how you have used, the AEDC data.
Additional AEDC resources
Go to the following AEDC website pages for more information about early years’ development and other uses of AEDC data:
Contact the NT AEDC manager
The NT AEDC manager can help to support your understanding and use of the AEDC data.
Phone: (08) 8999 5773
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