AEDC background
The AEDC is implemented every three years. We now have data from 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2021. The sixth collection will take place in 2024.
We are grateful to all those teachers and schools that contributed to the AEDC data collection. Because of their commitment to the AEDC we are able to build a picture of Victorian children’s development over time.
The AEDC is a population measure of how young children are developing across Australia as they begin school. It measures children’s development across five domains:
- physical health and wellbeing
- social competencies
- emotional maturity
- language and cognitive skills (school-based)
- communication skills and general knowledge.
AEDC results are reported as proportions of children who are considered to be:
- ‘on track’ - that is, doing well
- ‘developmentally vulnerable’ on one or more domain – those children who may be at risk of not doing well in life
- 'developmentally vulnerable’ on two or more domains – those children who may not be ready to achieve success at school, and/or who do not have the basic skills in place.
The AEDC is a key tool in school, early years and community planning, research and policymaking across Victoria and nationally.
The AEDC is completed by school teachers in children's first year of school.
Why the AEDC is important
Latest news
Evaluation of the Comprehensive Monitoring System Trials – An AEDC Extension Project
In 2021/2022, a trial of the extension project of the AEDC, the Comprehensive Monitoring System, was conducted in North Central Victoria in partnership with local communities. Following trials, our team engaged a consultancy firm to conduct an evaluation of this process. To learn more about the findings and results of the Comprehensive Monitoring trials so far, please see the final evaluation report now available here.
Visualising the Evidence (VTE) data release
Victorian Geospatial Maps providing complementary child, family, and community AEDC data at local area levels are now available here. Instructional video for learning how to navigate the content of these maps is also included on this same page.
AEDC 2022 national data release
The Hon Stuart MP officially released the 2021 AEDC data on behalf of the Australian Government on 1 April 2022. The media release can be found at How our youngest learners fared during COVID-19.
Australian Early Development Census plus: mobilising data across the early life course
The Australian Early Development Census plus: mobilising data across the early life course report explores government policy and the policy environment for mobilising AEDC data with complementary data across the early life course, as part of a comprehensive monitoring system approach.
Using the AEDC data
Data results, policy and research
Data collected in 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2021 allows us to measure children's outcomes over time.
- To map your community results refer to Visualising The Evidence: Mapping your community results.
- To see Victorian trends in the AEDC from 2009 – 2021, visit Victorian trends from the AEDC.
- To see results from 2018 and 2015, visit Key results/findings from 2018 and 2015
- To visualise how your community AEDC results have changed from 2009 to 2015 on the measure of 'developmentally vulnerable on 1 or more domain', refer to AEDC change over time maps: developmentally vulnerable on 1 or more domain (PPTX, 14MB).
For other data resources refer to Using the AEDC: research, resources and data sources.
For conferences and events, refer to Conferences and events.
Contact us
For further enquiries, contact Catherine Watkin Nolan, AEDC Victorian Coordinator:
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