Australian Early Development Census

The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) is a national census of early childhood development based on data collected by teachers about children in their first year of full-time school, also known as transition.

Read more about the AEDC on the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) website.

The AEDC was collected for the first time in 2009 and is repeated every three years. This data is publicly available on the AEDC Data Explorer dashboard on the website.

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. A summary of recent research findings and policy implications that have come from the AEDC results is available on the AEDC Policy Placemat on the website.

AEDC data collection

The AEDC measures how children have developed by the time they start school, across 5 key areas of development referred to as domains:

• Physical health and wellbeing
• Social competence
• Emotional maturity
• Language and cognitive skills
• 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. The AEDC questions are available online on the website.

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 most recent collection of AEDC data was in 2024. The Australian Government will release the results in 2025.

In the meantime, the 2021 AEDC National Report presents data for all 5 data collection cycles in 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2021. You can view the 2021 AEDC National Report on the AEDC website.

AEDC Data Explorer dashboard is where data tables, maps and graphs are searchable for the Northern Territory and community profiles for areas within the Territory.

The 2021 AEDC Northen Territory Report  PDF (8.5 MB) is available and provides whole of Territory and regional summaries of results.

To request additional data to meet your needs or for support in understanding and using the data contact the NT AEDC Coordinator at the details listed below.

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.

The national AEDC website offers factsheets and stories about how communities and services 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. These are available on the eLearn site.

Email the NT AEDC Coordinator at the details below to request support with, or to share how you have used, the AEDC data.

Contact the NT AEDC manager

The NT AEDC Coordinator can help to support your understanding and use of the AEDC data.

Phone: (08) 8999 5773

Email: ntaedc.doe@education.nt.gov.au.