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Paramount consideration of children

Leading child-first practice with confidence

From February 2026, the Education and Care Services National Law makes it clear that the safety, rights and best interests of children must be the paramount consideration in the operation and delivery of education and care services. In practice, this means every decision and action must place children above all other considerations. 

For many services, the focus is now on translating this requirement into consistent, everyday practice. 

At the heart of this shift is one critical question: whose needs are shaping this choice? 

To support services in responding with clarity and confidence, we’ve developed free resources plus a new four-part professional learning series that moves from foundational understanding through to leadership, pedagogy and children’s participation. 

Free resources

Webinar: Staring the paramountcy conversation

This excerpt of a recent CELA member webinar recording introduces the essential foundations of the paramount consideration of children, building a shared understanding of what it means, why it matters, and how it influences the everyday decisions we make for and with children.

Once you've watched this, join us for one of our upcoming new live webinar sessions in this series.

Watch the recording

Poster: Paramount consideration of children

These printable posters highlight what it means to create a child-first culture in early education services, where the safety, rights and best interests of children are the paramount consideration.The posters can support teams to reflect on how policies, actions and conversations can be shaped to ensure children are placed first.

Choose from two designs. 

 

Download the posters

New live webinars

Starting the Conversation: Understanding Paramountcy in Everyday Practice

This series builds a shared understanding of what the paramount consideration of children means and why it matters.  

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Leading Teams Through the Paramount Consideration of Children

Explore how to guide teams, navigate responsibilities and keep children’s best interests as the paramount consideration in everyday practice.

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From Philosophy to Everyday Practice: Centring the Paramount Consideration in Pedagogy

Explore how critical reflection, team dialogue, and philosophy-led approaches can guide everyday decisions, planning, and pedagogy.

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The Child’s Lens: Participation and the Paramount Consideration

Explore how viewing practice through the child’s lens can strengthen children’s participation in everyday decisions, routines and experiences.

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Deepen your practice

Together, these sessions are designed to help educators and leaders move beyond theory, work through real scenarios, navigate competing pressures, and make clear, defensible decisions that place children at the centre.  

This is not just about understanding the principle. It is about embedding it, leading it, and living it in every aspect of your service. 

More ways to strengthen your consideration of children

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Explore our entire PD calendar

Join the thousands of ECEC professionals who trust CELA to elevate their understanding of quality practice each year. Choose from over 50 topics, delivered through live webinars and flexible self-paced courses, including the most extensive range of APST-aligned sessions available. CELA is a not-for-profit peak body. Booking your training with us helps support our advocacy, and our mission to ensure that all children across Australia can benefit from quality early education and care. 

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Did you know that members receive a significant discount on training?

CELA is a not for profit peak body. We have been supporting early education and care professionals with training, advocacy, consulting and phone support for almost 50 years. Any surplus made from training is invested back into sector advocacy. 

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