Purpose & Vision
Why NAECEC exists
Australia's early education system is shaped by decisions taken far from the learning room. NAECEC exists to make sure those decisions are informed by the people who deliver it.
Our purpose
The National Alliance of Early Childhood Education and Care Limited provides a unified national voice on issues affecting the delivery of early childhood education and care in Australia. It represents professional providers operating across the country, including privately owned and operated services that make a significant contribution to the nation's education and care sector.
NAECEC is not a lobby for commercial interests. The Association's purpose is to advocate for policy, funding and regulatory frameworks that deliver quality outcomes for children, sustainable services for families and long-term investment in the sector's capacity.
That means promoting evidence-based policy, sector sustainability, child safety, quality, governance and compliance — and being a constructive, credible participant in national policy development rather than a reactive one.
Our vision
A fair, sustainable and high-quality Australian early education sector that delivers exceptional outcomes for children, supports workforce participation, strengthens communities and recognises the vital role professional operators play in building Australia's future.
Core objectives
What the Association is constituted to do
Seven objectives define NAECEC's work and provide the test against which its advocacy is assessed.
- 01
Equitable funding models
Advocate for government funding models that support a sustainable, high-quality and accessible early education sector for every Australian family.
- 02
Evidence-based policy reform
Promote policy and regulatory reform that strengthens sector stability, encourages long-term investment and improves outcomes for children and families.
- 03
Reputation and public understanding
Protect and enhance the reputation and public understanding of professional early education providers and the work of their educators.
- 04
A unified national voice
Provide a single, credible voice in government, media and public discourse on matters affecting the early education sector.
- 05
Best practice and child safety
Promote best practice in governance, compliance, workforce development, child safety and educational outcomes.
- 06
Collaboration and innovation
Facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation among members so that improvement travels quickly across the sector.
- 07
Constructive contribution
Contribute constructively to policy development and sector initiatives that strengthen the long-term effectiveness of Australia's early education system.