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National Child Safety Review
The public consultation process for the National Child Safety Review closed on 11 June 2025.
The feedback received is instrumental in shaping a safer and more supportive environment for children in education and care services.
For more information about the National Child Safety Review, visit the ACECQA website.
Changes to the National Quality Framework – 1 September 2025
Changes to the Education and Care Services National Regulations commenced on 1 September 2025. These changes include:
- New policy and procedures required for safe use of digital technologies and online environments.
- 24-hour notification for physical/sexual abuse incidents and allegations (down from 7 days).
- Services to be free from vaping devices and substances.
New policy and procedures: Safe use of digital technologies and online environments at the service (Regulation 168)
Services are required to implement a policy and procedure to ensure children’s safety when using digital technologies and online environments addressing:
- Taking, use, storage and destruction of images and videos of children being educated and cared for.
- Parental authorisation for taking, using and storing images and videos.
- Use of any optical surveillance devices (e.g. CCTV).
- Use of any digital device issued by the service.
- Use of digital devices by children while at the service.
The National Model Code: Taking images in early childhood education and care and accompanying guidelines can assist in developing or updating your policies.
Notification timeframes for allegations or incidents of physical or sexual abuse
The timeframe for notifying the Education Standards Board of allegations or incidents of physical or sexual abuse will reduce from 7 days to 24 hours.
Services to be free from vaping substances and vaping devices
While service environments must already be free from the use of tobacco, illicit drugs and alcohol, they also need to be free from the use of vaping substances and vaping devices.
Updates to the National Quality Standard – 1 January 2026
From 1 January 2026, minor refinements, sharpening the focus on child safety, will take effect:
Quality Area 2: Children’s Health and Safety
- Element 2.2.3 will be renamed Child Safety and protection, emphasising the need for educators to identify and respond to children at risk of abuse or neglect.
Quality Area 7: Governance and Leadership
- Quality Area 7 including Standard 7.1 and Element 7.1.2 will explicitly reference and support the operation of child safe services.
Support for approved providers and services
The following support is available to help approved providers and their services prepare for these changes:
NQF Child Safety Guides: Newly developed Child Safe Culture Guide and Online Safety Guides are now available.
ACECQA Information Sheet: Provides further information about these changes.
For any other questions you can contact the Education Standards Board via phone 1800 882 413 or email educationstandardsboard@sa.gov.au
SA personal mobile devices ban in long day care and preschools
From 1 September 2025, personal mobile devices are banned in early years services to strengthen safety and better protect young children.
All South Australian long day care and preschool services are required to implement a policy and procedure addressing the use of personal mobile devices and ensure this is in line with the National Model Code.
The services are asked to provide assurance and a copy of these documents to the Education Standards Board (ESB) by 26 September 2025.
Next steps
From 1 September 2025, Long Day Care and Preschool services can provide their assurance and upload their documentation through NQAITS by following these steps:
- Log into the National Quality Agenda IT Systems (NQAITS Portal)
- Click on the My Service button on the navigation menu
- Once your service has been opened, click the tile for New Forms
- Select the RI01RA Requested Information Form from the list
- Follow the prompts to complete the form and upload your documents
The ESB will conduct spot checks of documents and service implementation. Non-compliance may result in regulatory action including financial penalties or additional conditions imposed on services.