11 March 2026
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) is conducting a briefing at Parliament House Canberra on Thursday 12 March 2026, hosted by the cross-party led Parliamentary Friends of Early Childhood:
The path forward: How we can build the early learning system that Australia’s children need.
Anne Hollonds AO, Chief Executive of ELACCA, and former National Children’s Commissioner (2020-2025) said: ‘This is a critical time for reform in early childhood education and care, with a large number of regulatory changes and Parliamentary inquiries underway.
‘We are delighted to announce that Senator the Honourable Jess Walsh, Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth, will be speaking.
‘There will also be an expert panel with Laureate Professor Karen Thorpe from University of QLD sharing international evidence on the critical factors in early childhood education and care that contribute to positive child development outcomes. Penny Dakin, Executive Director Communities at Minderoo, will outline options for an independent National Early Childhood Services Commission developed by Thrive by Five alliance experts.
‘In 2025 the community was shocked to learn about the systemic weaknesses in child safeguarding in the early childhood education and care sector across Australia. Governments and service providers are addressing these serious systemic issues, and there is much more to do.
‘This event is focussed on the opportunities we have with decades of evidence – the opportunities to build the early learning system that Australia’s children need.’
Ends
For interviews and further information contact:
Anne Hollonds M: 0411 382 692 E: [email protected]
About ELACCA www.elacca.org.au
ELACCA is a peak body representing the nation’s largest providers of early learning and care services including preschool/kindergarten, long day care, outside school hours and family day care.
ELACCA members comprise a significant percentage of the nation’s not-for-profit and private providers operating 2,386 early learning services for 358,812 children and their families, and employing more than 58,738 staff.
ELACCA advocates for the right of all children to access quality early learning and care, particularly children facing disadvantage. Our advocacy builds on international evidence, and the knowledge and experience of our members.