ECEC services to close early for mandatory child safety training under national reforms

New national reforms will see early childhood education and care (ECEC) services close from 5pm on selected days each year to complete mandatory safety training aimed at strengthening child protection practices across the sector.

From early 2026, ECEC providers will be permitted to close from 5pm, no earlier, on up to five occasions annually to ensure all educators and staff can participate in training designed to improve detection, intervention and reporting of abuse.

The initiative forms part of the Albanese Government’s broader child safety reforms, which include the rollout of CCTV trials across 300 services and the development of a National Register of ECEC workers.

Announced by Education Minister Jason Clare and Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Jess Walsh, the early closures are backed by an annual $40 million investment from existing Child Care Subsidy allocations, with services required to give families advance notice of any affected dates.

The Ministers said the move follows “sickening” alleged incidents of abuse in early learning settings and is a step towards restoring community confidence while ensuring every child’s right to a safe and secure learning environment.

“Our early educators are our best asset in keeping children safe,” Mr Clare said.

“This is about making sure this training is done, and done properly, even if that means a bit of inconvenience for families.”

The training program, developed by the Australian Centre for Child Protection, will begin in February 2026. It is designed to empower educators and staff with practical knowledge and confidence to identify and report concerning behaviours swiftly and appropriately.

Dr Walsh said the scheduled early closures provide “a sensible way” to meet the new training requirements.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the measure reflects the Government’s commitment to child safety, even if it requires some adjustment from families.

“There is nothing more important than our kids and keeping them safe.
That’s what this mandatory training is all about.”

Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Jess Walsh said the changes offer flexibility for services in how they meet their obligations.

“This is a sensible way for providers to manage new mandatory safety training.”

In addition to early closures, the training may be delivered via employer-paid professional development time or through the $21 million the Government has made available to support training implementation.

The reforms are being incorporated into the National Law governing early childhood education and care services, reinforcing the legal obligations of providers under the National Quality Framework.

More updates on the implementation timeline and support for services will be released as the training roll-out nears.

Read the media release from the Ministers for Education and Early Childhood Education here.