Dear early childhood education professionals
Firstly, I’d like to welcome the new Premier, the Hon. Ben Carroll and the new Minister for Education, the Hon. Gabrielle Williams. Hon Lizzie Blandthorn remains the Minister for Children. We look forward to working with them.
This month, we begin our countdown to Early Childhood Educators’ Day on Wednesday 2 September 2026. It is a wonderful chance to celebrate the skill and expertise of Victoria’s early childhood educators. We encourage services to start thinking about how to mark this important day. You can find resources in this edition to help you.
As we settle into Term 3, many of you will be getting ready for 2027. The online Transition Learning and Development Statement tool is now open. Early childhood teachers can begin Transition Statements for children who will go to school next year. The Transition Statement summarises each child’s strengths, learning styles and development. It makes their transition to school easier and keeps their learning on track.
In this edition, you can also find resources on how to support children with a disability to transition to school. Starting school is a particularly important milestone for children with disability or developmental delay. Kindergarten services help create a positive start to school that recognises children’s strengths and needs by working with families and schools.
Child safety remains a top priority across the sector. Over the past year, reforms have improved safety and quality, and these require everyone’s continuing attention. All early childhood education and care staff and volunteers must complete child safety training. Some staff and volunteers must also complete child protection training. All training must be done by Thursday 27 August 2026. This training will help create safer environments for all children and supports consistent safety practices across all services.
This month’s edition also has professional development opportunities, including the Provisionally Registered Teacher Grants program.
I hope you find the resources in this edition useful and wish you and the children and families in your service an enjoyable and enriching Term 3.
Bronwen FitzGerald
Deputy Secretary
Early Childhood Education
Updated