Progress as planned

The implementation of our Early Learning Strategy is well underway, with 100% of the 36 actions ‘on track’ or ‘completed’ and 12 future actions to commence in the next 2 to 5 years.

You can see our progress over the first 12-month of implementation and our planned actions for the next 2 to 5 years in the report card for year 1.

Early Learning Strategy – investing $50.1m over 4 years

We know the first 5 years of a child’s life is when they build the foundational skills and abilities they need to be successful at school and in life. To better support parents and their children in these early years, we’re investing an initial $50.1 million over the first 4 years of our 10-year Early Learning Strategy 2021 to 2031: All young children thriving and learning (PDF 2.7MB).

This investment is allowing us to:

• expand the reach, frequency and number of child development checks including a new touch point at 12 months and 3 years
• give parents easy access to tips and resources to support their child’s development
• provide teachers with new resources to build on the high-quality learning and development in every public preschool
• provide strategic vision and direction across the early years system through the new Office for the Early Years in the Department for Education (department).

Parents and carers are central to our approach. They are their children's first teachers and we will continue to support them to be engaged in their child’s early learning.

Download the strategy

Download the Early Learning Strategy on a page (PDF 500KB) which summarises the short, medium and long term actions to deliver the strategy.

Watch the video – Early Learning Strategy 2021 to 2031: All Young Children Thriving and Learning (1 minute 28 seconds)

Feedback on the strategy

During development over 2020 and 2021, we heard from parents, community members, teachers and other early education and care workers, leaders and experts in education, child development and health. The strategy also reflects world’s best practice in early childhood development and learning.

Feedback shaped the key themes and future directions of the strategy, as reflected in the public consultation report (PDF 813KB).

Vision and goals

The vision for the Early Learning Strategy is for all young children to thrive and learn.

Our goals are:

• strong partnerships across government and non-governments sectors to increase the proportion of children developmentally ‘on track’, regardless of background or location, with additional specific support provided to Aboriginal children and children in complex situations
• well-supported parents highly engaged with their children, so children can learn and reach their potential
• high-quality educational preschool programs underpinned by excellence in teaching and learning.