Data resource profile: the Australian early development index (AEDI)

Sally A Brinkman; Tess A Gregory; Sharon Goldfeld; John W Lynch; Matthew Hardy

doi:10.1093/ije/dyu085

Data resource profile: the Australian early development index (AEDI)

Int J Epidemiol. 2014 Aug;43(4):1089-96. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyu085. Epub 2014 Apr 24.

Authors

Sally A Brinkman¹, Tess A Gregory², Sharon Goldfeld², John W Lynch², Matthew Hardy³

Affiliations

¹ Fraser Mustard Centre, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, School of Population Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK and Department of Education, Australian Government, Canberra, AustraliaFraser Mustard Centre, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, School of Population Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK and Department of Education, Australian Government, Canberra, Australia sallyb@ichr.uwa.edu.au.
² Fraser Mustard Centre, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, School of Population Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK and Department of Education, Australian Government, Canberra, AustraliaFraser Mustard Centre, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, School of Population Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK and Department of Education, Australian Government, Canberra, Australia.
³ Fraser Mustard Centre, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, School of Population Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK and Department of Education, Australian Government, Canberra, Australia.

Abstract

Every 3 years, the Australian Government conducts a developmental census across the entire population of children in their first year of full-time schooling (median age 5 years). The first developmental census was conducted in 2009, including 261,147 children, and in 2012 data were collected on 289,973 children-representing 97.5% and 96.5% of the estimated eligible population, respectively. The questionnaire is completed by teachers on the basis of at least 1 month's knowledge of the child, including aspects of physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive development, as well as data on special needs. Teachers are also asked to include details of the child's care arrangements and attendance in early education programmes in the years preceding school. Demographic and geographical data are recorded at the individual and area levels.

MeSH terms

Australia / epidemiology
Child
Child Development*
Child, Preschool
Developmental Disabilities / epidemiology*
Developmental Disabilities / ethnology
Female
Humans
Male
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander / statistics & numerical data*