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Australian governments have agreed to major reforms to strengthen child safety in early childhood education and care. These reforms respond to clear community expectations for safer, more transparent and accountable services. They also support a stronger regulatory framework and a more capable workforce.
Following extensive consultation, Education Ministers have endorsed a package of changes to the National Law and Regulations. These changes are informed by the Decision Regulation Impact Statement (DRIS) and will be implemented in stages from December 2025 to February 2026.
What is changing and why
The reforms will further embed child safety across the sector by:
- increasing provider accountability
- improving information sharing
- expanding regulatory powers
- strengthening safeguards such as Working with Children Checks (WWCC)
- building workforce capability through mandatory child protection and child safety training
- establishing a National Early Childhood Worker Register.
These changes aim to deter non-compliance, prevent unsuitable people from working with children, and create more consistent national expectations.
Key dates
From 10 December 2025:
- extension of the limitation period for prosecuting offences, with a new ‘stop the clock’ provision
- improved information-sharing powers for regulatory authorities, including access to information from recruitment agencies.
From 2 January 2026:
- tripled maximum penalties for offences under the National Law and Regulations
- expanded use of infringement notices
- four existing regulations becoming offences.
From 27 February 2026:
- introduction of a new paramount consideration requiring all staff, volunteers and providers to prioritise children’s safety, rights and best interests in every decision
- new rules for the use of digital devices in services, with limits on personal devices
- mandatory child protection and nationally consistent child safety training for all workers and volunteers.
- new offences for inappropriate conduct
- expanded powers for regulatory authorities to respond to misconduct, including suspensions and training directions
- strengthened WWCC requirements (varying by jurisdiction)
- removal of ongoing waivers for premises design requirements related to supervision
- new powers to identify and monitor related providers
- expanded inspection powers for family day care premises
- establishment of the National Early Childhood Worker Register.
Additional measures for Family Day Care
Additional reforms specific to Family Day Care (FDC) services include:
- require the approved provider of a FDC to formally approve the areas of the residence that are suitable to be used to provide education and care to children
- require the approved provider of a FDC service to conduct a risk assessment of areas outside but near a FDC residence premises and an approved FDC venue that are accessible to children
Further information on these reforms and their implementation timelines are provided by ACECQA, as well as throughout the Guide to the National Quality Framework.
Early Childhood Worker Register – 27 February 2026
A newly created National Early Childhood Worker Register will be rolled out nationally from 27 February 2026.
The Register will better support the existing role of regulatory authorities to monitor, identify and respond to risk with respect to persons working in children’s education and care.
The Register will be built by ACECQA within the National Quality Agenda IT system (NQAITS).
Further information about the type of information stored within the Register and FAQ’s can be found on the ACECQA website.
National Child Safety Training – 27 February 2026
From 27 February 2026, all staff, volunteers, and students in early childhood education and care must complete mandatory national child safety training.
The training is being developed by the Queensland Government and the Australian Centre for Child Protection. It will be available on Geccko.
Geccko is the Australian Government Department of Education’s online learning platform for the ECEC sector. Training is free.
There will be Foundation and Advanced training modules. The Foundation training will be available from 27 February 2026. Advanced modules will be available in July 2026.
You will need a Geccko account to access and complete the training.
ECEC providers can access the following to support their staff to complete the training:
- child Care Subsidy approved providers may close services early to support staff to complete the training
- small to medium providers may access wage subsidy grants. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
Visit the National Child Safety Training website for more information about the training.
Find out more and register for Geccko.
Updates to the National Quality Standard – 1 January 2026
From 1 January 2026, minor refinements, sharpening the focus on child safety, took 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.
For more information 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 were 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 reduced 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.
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: Child Safety – What is changing?
ACECQA: Child Safety
Helpful links
Australian Government Department for Education – Quality and Safety
For any other questions you can contact the Education Standards Board via phone 1800 882 413 or email educationstandardsboard@sa.gov.au