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PDF printable version of Supporting Healthy and Resilient Children Through the AEDI (PDF 21 KB)

Joint release

The Hon Peter Garrett MP
Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth

The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing

17 May 2011

The Minister for Early Childhood, Peter Garrett with the Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler today visited Perth’s Roseworth Primary School to talk about the Gillard Government’s Budget commitment to continue collecting data on young children to support the growth and development of healthy and resilient children.

In this year’s Budget, the Gillard Government is committing an additional $29.7 million (over five years) for the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) – a world first study of its kind which will give governments and communities a better understanding of how well prepared children are for school and assist in planning services and support for our kids to maximise their educational experience.

Western Australia has been an active player in the AEDI since it began in 2002 collecting data on 99.6% of WA children as part of the 2009 national implementation.

This significant commitment this Government has made through this Budget brings the total funding commitment to $51.2 million over the next five years.

“The Labor Government made an important investment with the first ever national implementation of the AEDI in 2009,” Mr Garrett said.

“We are now the first country in the world to have collected comprehensive and population-based data on the health, wellbeing and development of our five year olds.

“Data on school aged children will be collected on an ongoing basis every three years and will help ensure governments and communities continue to have the information they need to make a difference in the lives of young children and their families.”

The AEDI is already being used to improve the lives of our children and support a holistic approach to change, encouraging greater communication by education, health and community service agencies.

The latest AEDI data was released in April this year, and 96 per cent of Australian communities now have access to community profiles and maps which show the health and wellbeing of their children.

“This is a vital tool in assisting governments and communities to recognise the importance of prevention and early intervention and plan for the support children and their families require for optimal development. The data will ensure we focus our efforts, evaluate current programs and determine where improvements are needed to maximise children’s life potential,” Mr Garrett said

“The AEDI is an important part of our National Mental Health Reform Package and recognises that by supporting children in the years before school we greatly increase their chance of a successful transition to school and better learning outcomes and social and emotional wellbeing in later life,” Mr Butler said.

“It will allow us to begin to address questions around the links between mental health and social and emotional development, and the communities in which children live.

“The AEDI will enable communities and governments to focus their efforts on particular areas, to determine what we need to do to ensure young children get the best start to life.”

Mr Garrett said schools also play a vital role in creating supportive environments that promote early childhood development. The AEDI supports schools like Roseworth to develop and plan for optimal school transitions through the early years.

“Roseworth Primary is an excellent example of a school that is already making this happen. It’s also a school that is building strong community partnerships to ensure local children get access to the support they need, even before they reach school.”

“I am confident that the investments the Gillard Government is making in initiatives like the AEDI will support Roseworth and other schools to continue this important work.”

For more information on the AEDI, visit the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website.

Minister Garrett Media Contact: Kate Pasterfield on 0437 965 071
Mr Butler’s office: 02 6277 7280
DEEWR Media: media email
Non-media queries: 1300 363 079