Almost 60% of country kids in remote and very remote areas of Australia are not developmentally on track to start school according to figures from the latest Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data.
Children have been assessed as vulnerable, developmentally, with figures rising to 12.5% in 2024 up from 11.4% in 2021, placing a spotlight on challenges faced by children in regional and remote areas.
The AEDC Census provides an overview of how Australian children are developing when they start school in five key areas, physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills as well as communication skills and general knowledge…