Early Learning & Care Council of Australia

ELACCA wants all children in Australia to have access to inclusive, high-quality early learning and care, delivered by a skilled, valued workforce.

We promote the value of high-quality early learning and care for all Australian children, irrespective of their or their family’s circumstances.

We do this by drawing on the knowledge, data and experience of our members, contributing to the development of evidence based public policy for the sector.

We help our members to support their workforces, because skilled and experienced educators are essential for high-quality early learning and care.

We seek to co-create with governments a strong, sustainable early learning and care system that can support all children and families across Australia, for education, development and workforce participation outcomes.

ELACCA’s members are the Chief Executive Officers of some of Australia’s largest providers of early learning and care, both not-for-profit and for profit. ELACCA members operate a total of 2,383 services, including 2,002 long day care services, 304 preschool/kindergarten services and 77 OSHC services, covering every state and territory.

Our members offer one-quarter of all the long day care and preschool/kindergarten places in Australia. Together, our members serve 359,324 children and their families, and employ more than 58,738 staff.

The Australian early learning environment provides children with the tools they need to develop emotional, social and cognitive skills to become lifelong learners. ELACCA aims to:

• Progress the quality of early learning and care and outcomes.
• Enhance the development and professionalisation of the early learning workforce.
• Improve equity of access to early learning for all children, particularly those in vulnerable circumstances.

Check out our latest news to learn more about ELACCA.