Extension of Worker Retention Payment is an essential investment in Australia’s early learning system
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Extension of Worker Retention Payment is an essential investment in Australia’s early learning system

  17 June 2026  The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) welcomes the Australian Government’s decision to extend its landmark wage subsidy for early childhood educators. The continuation of the Worker Retention Payment provides much-needed certainty for Australia’s early childhood educators, and reinforces the foundations for a strong early learning system in this…

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia welcomes Dr Amanda Walsh as new CEO
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Early Learning and Care Council of Australia welcomes Dr Amanda Walsh as new CEO

  9 June 2026  The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia is very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Amanda Walsh as the organisation’s new Chief Executive Officer. Amanda has a long association with ELACCA, previously working with the organisation in policy, projects and partnerships roles.  Amanda began her career as a diplomat,…

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia welcomes announcement about national Early Childhood Education and Care Commission
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Early Learning and Care Council of Australia welcomes announcement about national Early Childhood Education and Care Commission

  7 May 2026  The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) welcomes the announcement by Minister Clare and Minister Walsh that consultations will soon begin on the establishment of a national Early Childhood Education and Care Commission. Anne Hollonds AO, CEO of ELACCA, said ‘While important steps have been taken to strengthen the…

Building the early learning system that Australia’s children need
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Building the early learning system that Australia’s children need

  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…

Australia takes a leap forward on early learning with the 3 Day Guarantee
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Australia takes a leap forward on early learning with the 3 Day Guarantee

  5 January 2026  The commencement of the 3 Day Guarantee today moves Australia one step closer to universal early learning and care, removing a longstanding barrier to children’s participation. The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) welcomes the commencement of the 3 Day Guarantee, which extends access to the Child Care Subsidy…

Our Commitment to Children
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Our Commitment to Children

18 December 2025  Prioritising child safety is not optional. The safety, rights, and best interests of every child are our highest priority and our paramount consideration in operational decisions. As Australia’s largest providers of early childhood education and care, ELACCA members are united in our commitment to prioritise child safety. We commit to:

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Hollonds as our new Chief Executive Officer
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The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Hollonds as our new Chief Executive Officer

  19 November 2025  Anne brings a wealth of experience, vision, and dedication from 28 years of senior leadership across government and non-government sectors, with a distinguished career dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families. Anne recently completed her term as Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission. In her previous CEO roles, Anne provided advice to governments and led research, policy and practice in education, health and…

ELACCA Statement on Child Safety
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ELACCA Statement on Child Safety

  ELACCA and its members are committed to delivering safe, quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) for all children. Across all the priorities we pursue in our work, nothing is more important than the safety and wellbeing of children. We are collectively driven by a zero-tolerance approach to child harm, in all its forms….

ELACCA endorses Education Ministers’ Suite of National Safety Reforms – for Australia’s littlest learners – from services to boardrooms
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ELACCA endorses Education Ministers’ Suite of National Safety Reforms – for Australia’s littlest learners – from services to boardrooms

  22 August 2025  The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) backs today’s Education Ministers Meeting agreements on a suite of national safety reform actions to improve safety, quality and transparency in the early learning and care sector. ‘Education Ministers today have joined together in a historic collaboration to agree on important reforms…

ELACCA Board announces the resignation of CEO, Elizabeth Death
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ELACCA Board announces the resignation of CEO, Elizabeth Death

  10 July 2025  The ELACCA Board writes today to formally advise that ELACCA CEO, Elizabeth Death, has submitted her resignation and will be stepping down on 6 October 2025. Since commencing in 2016, Elizabeth has facilitated ELACCA’s growth from a small representative group of CEOs to the current 18 member organisations with a significant…