Australian Early Development Census (AEDC)

The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) is a data collection program led by the Australian Government. The AEDC is conducted every three years, with government and non-government schools taking part. The AEDC data provides a picture of how children are developing by the time they arrive at school, measuring development across the five domains of physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills (school-based) and communication and general knowledge.

In each of the previous collections more than 95 per cent of schools with children in their first year of full-time school participated in the AEDC. The 2024 census will be the sixth collection. Find out more at www.aedc.gov.au.

Further information

•  AEDC data collection key dates – 2024