In 2013, ECA WA members were invited to contribute to the development of a strategic plan that would set priorities, focus energy and resources, and work toward the core function of Early Childhood Australia: to advocate for the rights and well-being of children in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Members identified the diminishing opportunities for children (aged birth to eight years) to access quality play in these environments as a major concern necessitating it as a key priority in future planning. The vision that child-initiated and self-directed play be reinstated as a fundamental right in early education and care settings, including the early years of schooling, was similarly shared by members of other leading early childhood advocacy organisations in WA (OMEP, ECTA, EYES and the SSTUWA). Moreover, the demise of play in ECEC was considered by key stakeholder representatives (of Playgroup WA, CareWest, Family Day Care WA, Meerilinga, and Childcare Association of WA) at the ECA WA AGM (2014) during a Panel Discussion on Play. Shortly thereafter, ECA WA pledged its commitment to developing a play strategy initiative
