Major NQF child safety reforms take effect ahead of further changes in early 2026

Significant legislative changes designed to strengthen child safety, accountability and workforce oversight across early childhood education and care (ECEC) services have begun rolling out nationally, following passage of the Early Childhood Legislation Amendment (Child Safety) Act 2025.

Victorian Parliament has passed the Act on behalf of all states and territories, initiating a staged introduction of new National Quality Framework (NQF) requirements that will affect approved providers, educators and service operations across Australia. These reforms focus on strengthening protections for children, improving regulatory visibility and reinforcing expected standards of professionalism across the ECEC workforce.

Changes that took effect on 10 December 2025

The first phase of reforms is now in place, strengthening regulatory powers and enforcement across the sector. Key amendments include:

• an extended limitation period for offences, enabling prosecution to be undertaken
• increased penalties for providing false or misleading information to approved providers or recruitment agencies about a prohibition notice
• expanded powers for Regulatory Authorities to gather and share information with recruitment agencies
• proactive sharing of the identity of prohibited individuals and individuals subject to enforceable undertakings with their current approved provider

These measures are now operational and aim to close information gaps, reduce workforce mobility risks and ensure providers have the information required to make safe and lawful staffing decisions.

From early January, strengthened compliance and enforcement mechanisms will be introduced, including:

• a three-fold increase to all maximum NQF penalties
• expanded use of Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs)

These changes are expected to support consistent regulatory responses and emphasise the seriousness of breaches that compromise children’s safety or wellbeing.

Major reforms commencing 27 February 2026

The most substantial amendments will take effect from late February, with wide-reaching implications for service operations, workforce conduct and quality assurance under the NQF. These changes include:

• making the safety, rights and best interests of children the paramount consideration in the operation of an education and care service
• mandating that only service-supplied or service-authorised devices are used when taking images or videos of children
• prohibiting the use of personal devices while working directly with children in centre-based services
• requiring child protection and child safety training for all staff, volunteers and students
• establishing inappropriate conduct as an offence
• broadening the range of regulatory responses available to address misconduct
• removing the option to apply for service waivers in relation to regulation 115 (premises designed to facilitate supervision)
• enabling effective identification, monitoring and regulation of related providers
• establishing a national early childhood educator register, giving Regulatory Authorities clearer visibility of workforce participation and movement

Additional changes for family day care services

Family day care (FDC) services will see further targeted amendments, including:

• expanded assessment requirements for areas near an FDC residence that may be accessible to children
• authority for authorised officers to enter areas beyond the residence when monitoring or investigating an offence or alleged offence

These changes are intended to strengthen environmental safety, clarity of regulatory oversight and the integrity of FDC service delivery.

Collectively, the reforms aim to:

• strengthen the safety, quality and accountability of early childhood services
• give families greater confidence in the education and care their children receive
• ensure providers continue to meet the highest standards of professionalism and child protection

ACECQA will release national guidance and implementation support materials to assist approved providers and services in preparing for each stage of the amendments.

Services are encouraged to begin reviewing policies and governance arrangements to ensure they are ready for full compliance across the 2026 rollout.

Access these updates on the Queensland Department of Education website.