2025 ECA National Conference, 1 – 4 October, Perth

Universal not Uniform: Leading change, strengthening unity and honouring individuality

‘Universal not Uniform: Leading change, strengthening unity and honouring individuality is the theme for the 37th ECA National Conference, to be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Western Australia, from Wednesday 1 October to Saturday 4 October 2025.

Across Australia, early childhood education and care is the focus of policy analysis and debate with reform agendas at both national and jurisdiction levels taking shape. We want to make sure that this reform is informed by evidence and pays particular attention to strengthening equity – both in terms of access to early education but also outcomes for children and families who may otherwise be at risk of experiencing poor development, learning or wellbeing outcomes into their formal school years. There is also a need to ensure that these reforms are flexible to allow for contextualised solutions across jurisdictions and to meet the needs of all children and families.

The ECA National Conference is an opportunity to come together and help shape the future of Australia as a nation and the legacy we leave for the next generation of children.

The ECA National Conference provides a platform for professional discourse relevant to the rights, wellbeing and early education of young children (birth to eight years). It is attended by early childhood educators, teachers, service leaders and executives, as well as policy-makers, program administrators, academics, researchers and those involved in pre-qualification training and ongoing professional development.

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2024 ECA National Conference Highlights

Multiple literacies for children’s learning

Literacy development is fundamental for ongoing success and can be applied in multiple domains, however, there is ongoing debate on how best to develop these literacies. This sub-theme is to explore multiple modes and methods of literacy development from theoretical and practical perspectives.

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Leadership: national initiatives, local solutions

It can be hard for leaders to identify how big-picture initiatives (like the federal Early Years Strategy 2024–2034) can be applied to local situations. This sub-theme explores supporting local solutions to local problems.

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Children at the centre of their own education journey

As children grow and develop across their early years, they move through multiple settings and the focus is often on getting children ready for the next stage of their journey. This sub-theme challenges presenters to think more broadly about these transitions and how the settings might be more ready for the children coming in.

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One workforce for young children

Workforce concerns are ongoing and increasing with more funding for younger children in many states of Australia. This sub-theme invites presentations on successes in enhancing workforce or suggestions for strategies to encourage quality educators to join and stay within the early years of education in multiple settings.

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Supporting inclusion for regional, rural and remote

Australia (WA in particular) has large expanses of space with small pockets of services. This sub-theme invites presentations on how to provide the right services to the right spaces, which leverage community strengths when resources and personnel are limited and distances are difficult to traverse.

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Discount for ECA members

Discount for ECA members

Early Childhood Australia members receive a discount to the conference. If you are interested in becoming a member, there are a variety of Early Childhood Australia membership categories to choose from.

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Become a sponsor

Become a sponsor

Sponsorship of the ECA National Conference is a great way to promote your organisation or business to the early childhood sector. ECA will ensure that your investment is worthwhile with many direct and indirect benefits.

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Registration

Registration

Registration for the 2025 ECA National Conference will open soon!

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Location

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

21 Mounts Bay Rd, Perth WA 6000

+61 2 6242 1800 conference@earlychildhood.org.au