The Early Years Learning Framework is part of the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) reform agenda for early childhood education and care and is a key component of the Australian Government’s National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care. It underpins universal access to early childhood education and will be incorporated in the National Quality Standard in order to ensure delivery of nationally consistent and quality early childhood education across sectors and jurisdictions.
The Early Years Learning Framework describes the principles, practice and outcomes essential to support and enhance young children’s learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school. The Framework has a strong emphasis on play-based learning as play is the best vehicle for young children’s learning providing the most appropriate stimulus for brain development. The Framework also recognises the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development.
Development of the Early Years Learning Framework
The Early Years Learning Framework has been developed collaboratively by the Australian and State and Territory Governments with substantial input from the early childhood sector and early childhood academics. The Framework has incorporated feedback from an extensive consultation process, including two national symposiums, national public consultation forums, focus groups, an online forum and case-study trials.
Implementation
On 2 July 2009, COAG endorsed the Early Years Learning Framework. Implementation of the Framework has now commenced.
The Australian Government has provided copies of the Early Years Learning Framework and Families Guide to early childhood services across Australia.
At this introductory stage, early childhood services are expected to familiarise themselves with the Early Years Learning Framework and map their existing practice against the principles and practice outlined in the Framework. It is expected that, following a period of familiarisation, each early childhood service will develop their own strategy to implement the Framework, taking their own unique context into consideration.
Further resources including an Educators’ Guide are being developed to support the implementation of the Early Years Learning Framework. Release of the Educators’ Guide is planned for early 2010.
Any queries on the implementation of the Early Years Learning Framework should be directed to EYLF@deewr.gov.au.
EYLF support and training
The Professional Support Coordinators (PSC) and the Indigenous Professional Support Unit (IPSU) networks in each state and territory are able to deliver assistance and support for implementing the EYLF to Commonwealth Government funded services.
The PSC and IPSU are currently assessing the needs of the sector and delivering support on EYLF matters. This has commenced initially with assistance for familiarising services with the Framework.
For enquiries about training on the Early Years Learning Framework the contact details for the PSC and IPSU in your region are listed below. Indigenous childcare centres should contact the IPSU in the first instance.
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QLD PSC
Health and Community Service Workforce Council Inc
Phone: 1800 112 585 (toll free) |
QLD IPSU
Queensland Council of Social Services Inc
Indigenous Children's Services Unit
Phone: 1800 110 869 (toll free) |
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NSW PSC
Children's Services Central
Phone: 1800 157 818 (toll free) |
NSW IPSU (including ACT)
Lady Gowrie Child Centre
Phone: 1800 450 472 (toll free) |
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WA PSC
Child Inclusive Learning and Development Australia Inc
Phone: 1800 783 768 (toll free) |
WA IPSU
Yorganop Association Incorporated
Phone: 1800 788 520 (toll free) |
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SA PSC
Lady Gowrie Child Centre Inc
Phone: 1800 129 606 (toll free) |
SA IPSU
Network SA, Aboriginal Resource and Management Support Unit
Phone: 1800 679 199 (toll free) |
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NT PSC
Child Inclusive Learning and Development Australia Inc
Phone: 1800 138 662 (toll free) |
NT IPSU- North
Regional and Remote Aboriginal Children and Services Support Unit (RRACSSU)
Phone: 1800 890 133 (toll free) |
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ACT PSC
Communities at Work
Phone: 1800 228 772 (toll free) |
NT IPSU- Central
Regional and Remote Aboriginal Children and Services Support Unit (RRACSSU)
Phone: 1800 760 036 (toll free) |
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VIC PSC
Community Child Care Association
Phone: 1800 177 017 (toll free) |
VIC IPSU
Yappera Children’s Services Co-operative Limited
Phone: 1800 YAPPERA (toll free) |
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TAS PSC
Lady Gowrie Child Centre Hobart
Phone: 1800 647 718 (toll free) |
TAS IPSU
Lady Gowrie Child Centre Hobart
Phone: 1800 647 718 (toll free) |
Early Years Learning Framework Online Forum
The Early Years Learning Framework online forum re-opened on 11 September 2009.
This is an exciting opportunity for people in the early childhood sector to share their views with each other and with the Australian Government about the draft Early Years Learning Framework Educators’ Guide ‘Using Belonging, Being and Becoming in Early Childhood Services: A Guide for Educators’.
The Educators’ Guide will be developed to support implementation of the Early Years Learning Framework. It will guide early childhood educators in the use of the Early Years Learning Framework.
Through the online forum participants will have the opportunity to participate in online discussions, share ideas and provide feedback on the documents.
Feedback from the online forum will inform the development of the final Educators’ Guide to the Early Years Learning Framework.
Online Registration Form - Please complete this form if you would like to register for the Online Forum. On acceptance of your registration, you will be sent login details and the terms of use. If you registered for the first online forum you do not need to re-register - you may login with your existing UserID and password.
Login to Participate - if you have already completed the registration form and have received your login details.
Please direct all email enquiries regarding the online forum to EYLF@deewr.gov.au.
Key Documents
- Early Years Learning Framework Bookmark - Early childhood services are encouraged to print and distribute to parents and families. (
PDF 80KB)
If you are unable to access the PDF document, please contact EYLF@deewr.gov.au
- Belonging, Being and Becoming - The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia
( PDF 718KB | 
RTF 608KB)
- Belonging, Being and Becoming - The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia
- Information for Families ( PDF 171KB | RTF 48KB)
- Early Years Learning Framework Parents' Guide is now available in the following languages:
*If you are experiencing difficulties accessing the translated Early Years Learning Framework Families Guide or require the information in another language please contact 13 36 84.
Supporting Documents
- Early Years Learning Framework Fact Sheet ( PDF 43KB | RTF 30KB)
- A Research Paper to inform the development of An Early Years Learning Framework for Australia - June 2008 ( PDF 735KB | RTF 1.52MB)
- Analysis of Curriculum/ Learning Frameworks for the Early Years Literature Review
(Birth to 8) - April 2008 ( PDF 956KB | RTF 579KB)
- Analysis of Curriculum/ Learning Frameworks for the Early Years
(Birth to 8) Appendices - April 2008 ( PDF 933KB | RTF 414KB)
- Discussion paper - A National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care
- August 2008 ( PDF 405KB | RTF 8.75MB)