Why words matter in early childhood reform

Australian early childhood education and care (ECEC) is at a turning point. Workforce shortages, child safety concerns and growing public expectations have created an urgent need for change. In this article, we explore how language can shape the much-needed reforms to improve the sector.

Workforce shortages, child safety concerns, rising operational costs and fees, and increasing public scrutiny formed the backdrop to the National ECEC Summit held earlier this year. More than 1,500 educators, researchers, union representatives, service leaders and advocates came together to identify ten demands spanning workforce conditions, professional recognition and public understanding of ECEC. Together, these priorities recognised that the ECEC workforce needs stronger support to meet growing expectations. Yet, while many of these challenges are well recognised, our recent research reveals that the language used to describe ECEC is itself a powerful, though often overlooked, driver of reform.