General News
1 June, 2026
Kids ‘must learn from early age’
EDUCATORS, researchers and sector leaders from across Australia have gathered in Cairns for the Early Years Conference 2026, with a call to action to ensure children are given the best learning tools at the start of their young lives.
The Cairns Convention Centre event, under the theme Inspire. Collaborate. Act., featured keynote speakers, workshops and panel discussions focused on issues affecting young children, families and communities, with organisers aiming to strengthen partnerships across the early childhood sector.
Third-time MC Dr Karen Struthers said the theme reflected a strong call to action.
“Inspire. Collaborate. Act. captures the essence of what the Early Years Conference is all about – sparking new ideas, building strong professional connections and empowering participants to create real change for children and families,” she said.
Speech pathologist Kim Dunston from Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service said the event played an important role in improving outcomes for children across the state.
“The Early Years Conference is a collaboration of a lot of different people and organisations that are all focused on improving children’s outcomes in the early years,” she said.
Ms Dunston said the conference created opportunities to share research, practical strategies and new initiatives.
“Well, this is the third time that I’ve been to this conference and have done presentations each time, so it’s really great avenue to share your research, but also any new work that you’ve been developing with other organisations,” she said.
Claire Benham, director of the Child Development Program for Children’s Health Queensland, said the conference brought together professionals from across sectors.
“It’s vital. I think conferences like these are unique in that it is a cross section of people from all parts of the workforce and government, non-government organisations,” she said.
Ms Benham said the first five years of a child’s life were critical. “I think it’s the focus on the early years and the importance that the first five years in a child’s life set up the trajectory for health, for mental health, for educational outcomes, for employment,” she said.
Shelley Turner, team leader at the Benevolent Society, Cairns and Gordonvale Early Year Centre, said the conference attracted record numbers.
“So our 2026 early years conference, we had 420 delegates come on the first day, and around 440 delegates attend on the second day, making it one of our biggest conferences yet,” she said.
Ms Turner said the event was one of the only cross-sector conferences held in Far North Queensland.
“We bring people from early childhood, child health, Queensland Health, the community family support sector, and there’s no other conference that does that,” she said.
She said the conference also expanded its exhibitor presence. “We had over 20 exhibitor tables for the first time as well, which is quite huge for us in the past,” Ms Turner said.
The conference continues to attract a national audience committed to improving outcomes for children and families.
