Experts know from previous research that there are children who are at risk of not making a successful transition to school, and the gap between these children and their peers increases progressively. Australia’s National Early Childhood Development Strategy -Investing in the early years (Australian Government, 2009a) - also recognises the need to build a solid evidence base as one of its six reform priority areas. The results from the 2009 AEDI are now providing a wealth of information which is being used to influence early childhood initiatives at the community, state and national levels, as well as inform early childhood policy development.