Bedrock #2 June 2026

Welcome to Bedrock, the IEU’s magazine for staff in early childhood education and care. 

In this edition, discover the importance of dance, drawing, painting and other creative pursuits in children’s learning and development, and why teachers need greater support to deliver high-quality arts education. 

We investigate why staffing ratios in early childhood services need to be improved to ensure there are more staff to educate and supervise children. 

This edition also discusses the importance of a gender-diverse workforce and introduces IEU member Stephen Gallen, who explains why early childhood teaching is a deeply rewarding career for men. 

This edition is packed with other great reads including the importance of high-quality teacher training courses, how excessive screen use impacts children’s learning, and the importance of early connections to Country, language and community for First Nations children. 

We hope you enjoy this edition of Bedrock and find it valuable for your professional practice. 

Please share this edition with your colleagues and invite them to join the IEU. We are always stronger together.

Carol Matthews, Secretary
IEUA NSW/ACT Branch

You can browse through a selection of highlights below or download a PDF to read the full edition.

• Cultural Strength: What helps First Nations children thrive 
• Staffing ratios: Why the numbers don’t add up 
• Creative minds: Why arts education matters 
• Frozen faces: How screens impact young children’s learning 
• Gender diversity: How to attract men to early childhood education 
• Teacher training: Why quality must not be compromised 

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Bedrock is the early childhood magazine of the IEUA NSW/ACT Branch.

Visit the Bedrock archive to read past editions.

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