The past three years have marked an unprecedented opportunity for early education reform. CELA has harnessed this momentum through powerful advocacy, ensuring the voices of community and small providers are heard at every level of government.

As we head towards the next federal election, read about how our sector leadership is creating momentum for universal, high-quality early education and care.

Many CELA members continue to experience challenges in recruiting qualified early education and care professionals, highlighting an ongoing need for innovative workforce solutions.

Y Careers, a new social enterprise, offers targeted training, career coaching, and streamlined employment pathways to attract and retain young talent in the early education and care sectors. Find out how Y Careers can help your service access motivated trainees and qualified professionals, with additional administrative support.

The ABC's Four Corners recently exposed alarming practices in some Australian early education and care services, revealing critical gaps in safety, oversight, and accountability. 

Marg Rogers, a senior lecturer at UNE and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Manna Institute, analyses the root causes behind these failings. She highlights how conflicting corporate interests and hidden government funding undermine quality care, calling urgently for reform.

Research has shown that active father engagement in children's early years significantly enhances child development, strengthens family bonds, and benefits the broader community.

This article provides insights from The Fathering Project and offers practical tips and resources to help early education settings effectively engage fathers in supporting children's learning.

For professionals in early childhood education and care, understanding and fulfilling child protection responsibilities is not just best practice—it's a legal and ethical obligation. Creating a genuine culture of child safety involves embedding protection principles into every aspect of daily practice.

We highlight how CELA member St Luke’s Dapto integrates the NSW Child Safe Standards into their daily operations, and also share why it's important to invest in high quality child protection training. 

Excursions are more than just field trips—they are enriching experiences that offer many benefits for children, educators and the community. 

Coonamble Children’s Services Room Leader Jennifer Hertel discusses the joy and learning of taking children into the ‘real world’, and we share tips and resources for planning excursions.