ECEC sector responds to Government pledge to boost children’s safety 

A number of early childhood education and care (ECEC) peak bodies and advocates, including the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) and the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) have responded to the recent promise by the Federal Government that it will “crack down” on what it terms unscrupulous early childhood education and care providers in a bid to strengthen integrity across the care economy, including in ECEC. 

The new measures include strengthened powers to deal with providers that pose an integrity risk and powers to prevent providers who persistently fail to meet minimum standards and repetitively breach the National Law from opening new Child Care Subsidy approved services.

While the vast majority of children who are educated and cared for in Australia’s ECEC settings are well looked after, Minister for Early Childhood Education, the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP acknowledged, there is still more work to be done to identify and manage those who are not operating in the best interests of children’s safety and well-being.

The Minister signalled compliance action would be taken against existing providers with egregious and continued breaches, including the option to cut off access to Child Care Subsidy funding where appropriate.

The goal of strengthening integrity across the care economy to identify and act against non-compliant services was welcomed by ACA, President Paul Mondo said, acknowledging that “there is nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of children.”

“We support zero tolerance for child abuse or maltreatment,” he said.

“As a sector, ECEC is governed by a combination of laws, regulations and ethical codes to protect children from harm and, despite their robustness, there is still room for improvement. The sector welcomes these recommendations and the support required for some services to adhere to them.”

ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death agreed, adding the educator perspective into her comments, and noting that all children in Australia deserve access to inclusive, high-quality early learning and care, delivered by a skilled, valued workforce.

The small number of providers behaving in an unscrupulous manner, she continued, should be held to account by all levels of Government.

“ELACCA and ELACCA members support measures that are aimed at improving quality and increasing safety for children and educators in our sector, and look forward to the opportunity to work with governments and sector colleagues,” she said. 

“We value the Albanese Government’s intention to consult closely with the sector to ensure these changes address unacceptable behaviour and do not negatively impact families and quality providers.”

Learn more about the Government’s recent pledges here.