Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Education and Training
Tasmania has a greater proportion of children with highly developed strengths according to the latest Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).
The AEDC provides important information of Australian children’s development as they begin their first year of full-time school (Prep in Tasmania).
The census measures development across five domains; physical health and wellbeing, language and cognitive skills, social competence, emotional maturity, and communication skills and general knowledge.
The data is collected nationally every three years and can help professionals and families think critically about how best to support children’s development.
Key findings for Tasmania include:
Between 2015 and 2018 a significant improvement in the communication skills and general knowledge domain.
Tasmanian teachers also report the majority of Prep students are adapting very well to school, are being read to at home, and parents/carers are actively involved with the school known correlation factors for reduced vulnerability.
While these results are encouraging, we know that more needs to be done to support our most vulnerable children in Tasmania.
That is why the Hodgman Liberal Government will continue to invest and support Early Years initiatives such asour free preschool for 3 year olds program, Launching into Learning, the B4 Early Years Coalition, Child and Family Centres and new Early Learning Hubs.
