New Geccko course supports record keeping compliance in ECEC

A newly released short course on record keeping is now available via Geccko, the Australian Government’s dedicated online learning platform for early childhood education and care (ECEC) professionals. The course is designed to help providers and educators meet their legal obligations under the Family Assistance Law (FAL).

Accurate and consistent record keeping is a fundamental responsibility for all early learning providers, directly linked to compliance, service quality and accountability. Recognising the importance of this core competency, the Department of Education has developed a free, accessible course to support the sector’s understanding of record keeping requirements and best practices.

The course accessible through Geccko has been purpose-built for busy ECEC professionals, offering concise and practical guidance that can be completed in approximately 20 minutes.

Participants will be guided through the essential aspects of record keeping, including:

• the definition and scope of record keeping in an ECEC context
• provider obligations under the Family Assistance Law
• the specific types of records services must create, maintain and store
• the legal and operational consequences of failing to keep appropriate records
• the importance of data security and confidentiality in record storage.

The course is designed for flexibility, with content that can be accessed on a mobile phone, tablet or desktop. This means educators and leaders can engage with the material at a time and place that suits them whether during a break, at home, or as part of a professional development day.

In addition to the course content, participants receive a downloadable certificate upon completion and gain access to a range of supplementary resources. These include tip sheets, reference guides and short videos, all aimed at reinforcing key concepts and supporting practical implementation in service settings.

Record keeping is not only a compliance obligation it also underpins the delivery of high-quality early learning services. Well-maintained records support transparency, enable effective communication with families and government, and help ensure services are well-prepared for audits or regulatory reviews.

The course complements broader efforts by the Department of Education to strengthen compliance and quality assurance across the ECEC sector. It is one of a growing number of online learning opportunities now available on the Geccko platform, all of which are free to access and tailored to the professional needs of educators, approved providers and centre managers.

Services are encouraged to share the course with their teams and consider incorporating it into induction processes, ongoing training plans, or compliance audits. For approved providers, it offers an opportunity to ensure staff are aligned with regulatory expectations and understand their individual and collective responsibilities in relation to documentation and data management.

To learn more or register for access, visit the online learning section of the Department of Education website. A simple registration process allows users to browse the full course catalogue and begin learning immediately.