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15 per cent pay rise for early educators locked in as new legislation passes parliament

The Australian Parliament has passed legislation extending funding for the 15 per cent wage increase for eligible early childhood education and care workers while introducing stronger safety conditions for participating services.

Article

Fiona Alston

Sep 17, 2026

The Australian Parliament has passed legislation extending funding for the 15 per cent wage increase for eligible early childhood education and care workers while introducing stronger safety conditions for participating services.

Don’t miss a thing

Montessori Academy partners with child safety pioneer Holly-ann Martin OAM to empower children to speak up, stay safe and be heard

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Provider

Montessori Academy partners with child safety pioneer Holly-ann Martin OAM to empower children to speak up, stay safe and be heard

Why the family tour has become one of ECEC’s biggest blind spots

Digital Duty of Care Bill 2026: What early childhood services need to know

Fiona Alston

Sep 17, 2026

Marketplace

Why the family tour has become one of ECEC’s biggest blind spots

Early childhood providers can track enquiries, tour bookings and enrolment outcomes. What happens during the tour itself, however, has traditionally been much harder to see.

ECEC Compliance and Risk Forum puts child safety, regulation and prevention firmly in focus

Honouring First Nations languages in early learning centres: How Early Learning Victoria is prioritising the use of First Nations names.

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Queensland’s new information-sharing guideline puts child safety ahead of organisational silence

Queensland organisations working with children have received new guidance on how sensitive information can be lawfully shared to identify risks, coordinate safeguarding responses and prevent harm from escalating.

What’s happening in your car park? Why ECEC services must look beyond the front gate

Car parks can be one of the most easily overlooked risk areas surrounding an early childhood education and care (ECEC) service.

Article

Fiona Alston

Sep 16, 2026

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WA OSHC supervision decision highlights importance of clear boundaries and individual support

A recent Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal decision has highlighted the importance of clearly defined service boundaries, individualised support and active supervision within outside school hours care settings.

Understanding Children

Practice

Natasha Stott Despoja to chair Australian Centre for Child Protection advisory board

Natasha Stott Despoja AO will chair the Advisory Board of the Australian Centre for Child Protection at Adelaide University, taking on the role as child safety and the prevention of abuse remain prominent issues across early childhood education and care.

Queensland’s new information-sharing guideline puts child safety ahead of organisational silence

Queensland organisations working with children have received new guidance on how sensitive information can be lawfully shared to identify risks, coordinate safeguarding responses and prevent harm from escalating.

What’s happening in your car park? Why ECEC services must look beyond the front gate

WA OSHC supervision decision highlights importance of clear boundaries and individual support

Understanding Children

Practice

Natasha Stott Despoja to chair Australian Centre for Child Protection advisory board

Fiona Alston

Sep 16, 2026

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For you

Compliance

Policy

Politics

15 per cent pay rise for early educators locked in as new legislation passes parliament

The Australian Parliament has passed legislation extending funding for the 15 per cent wage increase for eligible early childhood education and care workers while introducing stronger safety conditions for participating services.

Montessori Academy partners with child safety pioneer Holly-ann Martin OAM to empower children to speak up, stay safe and be heard

Aligned with National Child Protection Week, Montessori Academy is turning conversation into action through a new organisation-wide partnership with Safe4Kids, strengthening protective education for children, educators and families across over 70 early learning services.

Digital Duty of Care Bill 2026: What early childhood services need to know

The Australian Government has released an exposure draft of the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026, proposing a new legal framework to place greater responsibility on online service providers to prevent foreseeable harm.

What NSW’s latest enforcement register can teach the ECEC sector about strengthening safety and compliance

The NSW Early Learning Commission’s enforcement register for April to June 2026 provides the early childhood education and care sector with an opportunity to reflect on the systems that support children’s safety, wellbeing and participation.

15 per cent pay rise for early educators locked in as new legislation passes parliament

The Australian Parliament has passed legislation extending funding for the 15 per cent wage increase for eligible early childhood education and care workers while introducing stronger safety conditions for participating services.

Montessori Academy partners with child safety pioneer Holly-ann Martin OAM to empower children to speak up, stay safe and be heard

Digital Duty of Care Bill 2026: What early childhood services need to know

What NSW’s latest enforcement register can teach the ECEC sector about strengthening safety and compliance

Fiona Alston

Sep 17, 2026

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15 per cent pay rise for early educators locked in as new legislation passes parliament

Don’t miss a thing

Montessori Academy partners with child safety pioneer Holly-ann Martin OAM to empower children to speak up, stay safe and be heard

Why the family tour has become one of ECEC’s biggest blind spots

Digital Duty of Care Bill 2026: What early childhood services need to know

Marketplace

Why the family tour has become one of ECEC’s biggest blind spots

ECEC Compliance and Risk Forum puts child safety, regulation and prevention firmly in focus

Honouring First Nations languages in early learning centres: How Early Learning Victoria is prioritising the use of First Nations names.

Editor’s Pick

Queensland’s new information-sharing guideline puts child safety ahead of organisational silence

What’s happening in your car park? Why ECEC services must look beyond the front gate

Keep Exploring

WA OSHC supervision decision highlights importance of clear boundaries and individual support

Natasha Stott Despoja to chair Australian Centre for Child Protection advisory board

Queensland’s new information-sharing guideline puts child safety ahead of organisational silence

What’s happening in your car park? Why ECEC services must look beyond the front gate

WA OSHC supervision decision highlights importance of clear boundaries and individual support

Natasha Stott Despoja to chair Australian Centre for Child Protection advisory board

For you

15 per cent pay rise for early educators locked in as new legislation passes parliament

Montessori Academy partners with child safety pioneer Holly-ann Martin OAM to empower children to speak up, stay safe and be heard

Digital Duty of Care Bill 2026: What early childhood services need to know

What NSW’s latest enforcement register can teach the ECEC sector about strengthening safety and compliance

15 per cent pay rise for early educators locked in as new legislation passes parliament

Montessori Academy partners with child safety pioneer Holly-ann Martin OAM to empower children to speak up, stay safe and be heard

Digital Duty of Care Bill 2026: What early childhood services need to know

What NSW’s latest enforcement register can teach the ECEC sector about strengthening safety and compliance