Parliamentary Speeches
Remarks at the Launch of the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) Community Profiles and Local Champions Program
18 May 2010THE HON KATE ELLIS MP
MINISTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,
CHILDCARE AND YOUTH
MINISTER FOR SPORT
Remarks at the launch of the
Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) Community Profiles
and Local Champions program
Tuesday 18 May 2010
*CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
I am delighted to be here today at C.a.F.E Enfield - one of the outstanding childcare centres is my own electorate of Adelaide. So I'm here in a dual capacity today, as the responsible Minister and the local Member of Parliament.
And C.a.F.E Enfield is an outstanding centre a centre that is supporting children's development, health, learning and wellbeing in a caring, inclusive and welcoming environment.
It is clear that the children here are happy and engaged with their learning and it is great to see that this centre like so many others across the country is making a huge difference in the life of our kids.
For many years it was assumed that a child's learning was something that didn't really take place until they reached the school gate. But evidence internationally now tells us that overwhelmingly, a child's developmental learning takes place in the early years.
As all parents know, a child's potential for development and growth between ages 0 to 5 is immense. It is during this period that children learn how to walk, to talk and to relate to others. The research clearly tells us that if we can get it right when our kids are young, we put them firmly on the path for future success and happiness.
The Rudd Government recognises just how crucial the early years are and prioritising early childhood education is firmly on our agenda. We also recognise how important it is to make informed decisions about how to invest in the early years.
Upon coming to Government, we recognised that we needed more information about how children are faring before they start school, so that we could identify where the problems are. While many Governments would run and hide from collecting and indeed releasing data that highlights these sorts of issues - we have embraced it.
Last year the Government undertook the first ever national measurement of children's development in the early years the Australian Early Development Index or the 'AEDI' as it is known. The AEDI measures five key domains of children in their first year of schooling: physical health and wellbeing; social competence; emotional maturity; language and cognitive skills and communication skills and general knowledge.
Between May and July last year, data was collected on more than 261,000 children 98 per cent of all Australian children in their first year of school. And in December last year I launched the national report, along with my colleague Julia Gillard, the Deputy Prime Minister.
The national report showed that the majority of Australian children were doing well. But it also sent us the message that we need to do something about the 23.5 per cent of children who are developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains.
Today I am delighted to be launching the next phase in AEDI information detailed community profiles. These profiles have more detail about the AEDI results for each community: they show what proportion of kids are doing better than expected, what proportion are on-track and the proportion of kids that are developmentally vulnerable. They also provide a rich resource of other community information including the number of children in the community, socio-economic indicators and more.
This rich source of information for each community will help politicians and policy makers determine priorities going forward, it will help not-for-profit and community groups determine what services and actions are needed. And it will help early childhood professionals and service providers to plan and target their resources to where they are most needed.
I know that many people here would be interested in what the AEDI data says about this area Port Adelaide Enfield.
The AEDI checklist, of more than 100 questions, was completed by 242 teachers from 117 government and non-government schools, covering over 1000 local children. The community profiles provide contextual information for example in this area 27.2% of children in this area have English as a second language.
The results tells us that 29.5 per cent of children in Port Adelaide are entering school developmentally vulnerable on one or more of the AEDI domains, compared with 22.7 per cent for the whole of South Australia, and 23.5 per cent for the whole of Australia.
This information tells us that we need to improve support for children and families in this area. And I am confident that with such quality local services, like CAF� Enfield - we will be able to deliver this for local children.
Today I'm also pleased to be announcing that the Australian Government is investing an extra $2.625 million to help communities respond to their AEDI results by creating AEDI local champions. Local champions will be appointed in areas where the results show we can do better.
The local champions will support communities to understand the results and determine what changes need to take place so we can give all kids the start to life they deserve.
Local champions will work with councils, early childhood education and child care, child health and family support services. They will help tailor solutions that meet the individual needs of each community. Importantly, local champions will build on the strengths of each community. And they will have an important role in highlighting just how important the early years are.
The AEDI is a world first it is the first time a national collection has been undertaken about children's development in the early years. This is a tremendous achievement.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the project partnersthe Centre for Community Child Health, the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth for their passionate and ongoing commitment to the AEDI.
With the AEDI Community Profiles, with the new Local Champions Program and with your help we are empowering communities to actively support their children's needs. And ultimately this will see more Australian children entering school as confident learners and going on to lead happy and productive lives.
Thank you.
[ENDS]
Minister Ellis' media contact: Jamila Rizvi 0438 644 603
DEEWR Media: media@deewr.gov.au Non-media queries: 1300 363 079