12 November 2026
Latest News
With the greatest of gratitude to our conference producer, Aventedge, ACA NSW is so very honoured to have chaired and co-hosted the second annual National Early Childhood Education Summit (10-11 November 2026) held in Sydney.
And thank you to all our sponsors and exhibitors too!
With Approved Providers and senior staff of services from NSW as well as across the nation, this year's Summit saw a 20% increase in participants and 40% increase in exhibitors!
Over 35 speakers provided the depth, inspiration as well as spirited discussions about all the challenges early childhood education and care services face every day. More importantly, participants were also able to engage with our speakers and each other to discuss and even explore potential solutions ultimately for the benefit of all children under our care.
Our speakers included:
the QLD Minister for Education & the Arts, the Hon John-Paul Langbroek MP;
the heroic Queensland whistleblower, Yolanda Borucki;
the National President of ACA, Paul Mondo;
the NSW Children's Guardian, Rachael Ward;
the ACT Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner, Jodie Griffiths-Cook;
the Commander Human Exploitation; Australian Federal Police, Joanne Cameron AP;
the CEO of Early Childhood Australia, Samantha Page;
the Director, Childlight East Asia & Pacific Hub, University of NSW, Professor Michael Salter;
the Director, Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University, Professor Daryl Higgins;
the host of the leading Early Years for the Future Podcast, Early Childhood Australia, Dr Amie Fabry;
the Executive Director & Co-Founder, Parkville Institute, University of Melbourne, Dr Anne Kennedy;
the Group Leader in Child Development, Education & Care, University of Queensland, Professor Karen Thorpe;
... and many more
... on the topics of:
governments strengthening child safety, accountability and trust in ECEC reform;
rethinking quality in early childhood education;
rethinking oversight when compliance does not guarantee safety;
how early detection and intervention can strengthen child safety;
rethinking cultural safety, inclusion and leadership in ECEC;
the paradox of rising standards in an under-resourced system;
paying for quality - can the system systain rising standards and expectations;
the importance of professional identity and respect;
why quality and safety are ultimately cultural;
beyond burnout - why educator wellbeing must become a leadership priority;
what actually keeps educators in the sector;
understanding legal exposure in a higher accountability environment;
through crisis - governance, media and reputation management;
... and more!
ACA NSW members and all ACA interstate members also benefitted by receiving the significantly discounted registration fees.
Next year's National Early Childhood Education Summit will be on 16-17 November 2026 in Sydney (which again will fulfil ACA NSW's roster of two conferences per year).
For any further information/clarification, please contact:
the ACA NSW team on 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au
the Aventedge team on 0421 930 062 or charlie.wright@aventedge.com
PUBLISHED: 12 NOVEMBER 2026
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