Dear early childhood education professionals
In this month’s edition, we begin our countdown to World Teachers’ Day on Friday 30 October 2026 by celebrating the professionalism and expertise of our early childhood teachers. The theme this year is 'Shine a light on teachers' and it's an opportunity to spotlight the amazing work you do to make a difference in children’s lives. To mark the occasion, we are also encouraging services to use this celebration kit to highlight the work of their early childhood teachers.
Also in October, Victoria is strengthening the Working with Children (WWC) Check. This includes the introduction of WWC Connect and new mandatory child safety training for people applying for or renewing their WWC Clearance. These changes will help organisations make safer decisions about the people they engage to work or volunteer with children. See: changes to the Working with Children Check.
The 2026 Victorian Early Years Awards ceremony is being held on Tuesday 27 October. The awards recognise the remarkable work of early childhood teachers and educators across Victoria. Now in their 21st year, they celebrate the people making a difference every day in the sector. All finalists are in the running to receive an award at the ceremony.
Looking ahead, Children's Week will take place from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. This is a national celebration that recognises the talents, skills, achievements and rights of children. Thousands of Victorian children and families will be able to take part in free activities and events taking place across the state. Successful grant applicants will be notified soon.
Also in this edition, you can find the latest information on Thriving Kids, a new national support system for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism, with low to moderate support needs. Thriving Kids will be rolled out progressively, with the first supports available this month. As Thriving Kids rolls out, we’ll provide more information to professionals and services that support children. This will help you understand the new system and how to guide families.
I hope you find the resources and information in this edition useful for you and your teams. Wishing you all the best for the month ahead.
Bronwen FitzGerald
Deputy Secretary
Early Childhood Education
Updated