Resources and evidence
Explore the evidence, policy proposals and campaign materials supporting the call for a National Early Education and Care Commission.
These resources are intended for policymakers, partners, advocates, sector organisations, services, educators, families and communities working towards an early education and care system that operates as a coordinated whole.
Blueprint for a successful commission
Provides two sets of guiding principles – the Blueprint Development Princicples and Architecture Principles to guide how the commission is design and delivered, and what the system reforms must achieve.
National Early Education and Care Commission blueprint summary
A summary of the problem, why it matters, what it could look like in your jurisdiction and what success looks like.
Join the Thrive by Five community
Stay connected to the people, ideas and evidence helping shape a better early childhood development system for every child and family in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Every child and family deserves a safe, high-quality early education and care system they can trust.
Australia has many organisations responsible for parts of early education and care, but no one responsible for making the whole system work. A strong national commission would provide the independent stewardship, evidence and accountability needed for long-term reform.
Would the Commission be another regulator?
No. Regulators would continue to oversee individual services and uphold standards. The commission would look at how the system performs as a whole and help governments coordinate reform. Regulators oversee individual services and the National Quality Framework. This would strengthen our national response to safety concerns.
Would it add another layer of bureaucracy?
A well-designed commission should reduce duplication and unclear accountability. It will strengthen our national response to safety concerns. Its purpose is to align effort, provide a whole-of-system view and support governments to act and plan together, not add another approval process.
The system is already shared across levels of government. A commission should be co-designed as a national institution that strengthens shared decision-making and applies accountability across jurisdictions, including the Commonwealth. It should elevate the voices of families, regional and remote, First Nations and diverse communities in informing what’s needed in the system.
Would it impose the same model across Australia?
No. The commission should support consistency where it helps while recognising different jurisdictional and community circumstances. Universal access requires tailored responses, not uniform delivery.
Can governments already coordinate through Education Ministers?
Ministerial forums are essential for decisions, but they do not provide continuous system intelligence, analysis, coordination and public accountability between meetings.
What would the Commission be responsible for?
Its final remit should be developed through a credible co-design process. At a minimum, it should provide independent stewardship, system intelligence, advice, coordination and public accountability. Its role could strengthen over time as its capability develops.
The commission’s functions can be developed over time, including looking across funding, supply, workforce, inclusion, safety, quality and system performance as a whole. With interim leadership, the commission’s focus can be developed together with families, communities, sector and governments.
