LANGUAGE AND COGNITIVE SKILLS
The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) measures the development and learning of around 300 000 children aged 0-5 across Australia across five domains: language and
cognitive skills; communication and general knowledge; emotional maturity; social competence; and physical health and wellbeing. Results from the 2021 collection cycle
show that the language and cognitive skills domain has seen the most significant shift.
iN THE EARLY YEARS
% of children
9.6 9.6 9.6
9.8 9.8 9.8
8.4 8.4 8.4
6.6 6.6 6.6
8.2 8.2 8.2
9.8 9.8 9.8
9.6 9.6 9.6
8.5 8.5 8.5
7.3 7.3 7.3
8.4 8.4 8.4
2018 2021
Physical health and wellbeing
Social competence
Emotional maturity
Language and cognitive skills (school- based) Communication skills and general knowledge
5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10
Socio- economic disadvantage
Aboriginal &
Torres Strait
Islander children Living in
remote/very remote location
Language background
other than English 1.9%
increase
0.3%
increase 1.8%
increase
1.3%
increase
National percentage of children developmentally vulnerable*
Source: Department of Education, Skills and Employment. (2022). Australian Early Development Census National Report 2021. Department of Education, Skills and
Employment. https://www.aedc.gov.au/resources/detail/2021-aedc-national-report
www.teachermagazine.com
Between 2018 and 2021, there has been an increase in the % of children classified as developmentally vulnerable in the language and cognitive skills domain for all equity groups identified by the AEDC.
*'Developmentally vulnerable' means children are facing some significant challenges in their development.
