Beyond the reform package: What the new child safety measures mean for ECEC policy

Following the announcement of a $189 million national package to strengthen child safety and trust in early learning, further details from the 22 August Education Ministers’ Meeting provide a clearer picture of what’s ahead for the sector.

 

For policy stakeholders, these reforms represent more than compliance changes. They mark a structural shift in governance, regulation and workforce oversight that will shape the ECEC system over the coming decade.

 

Workforce visibility: the National Educator Register

 

One of the most significant structural reforms is the creation of a National Educator Register, to be built by ACECQA and mandated under National Law.

 

The register will capture identity, qualifications and Working with Children Check (WWCC) status for all ECEC staff, giving regulators clear visibility of the workforce and enabling early intervention when risks are identified.

 

A testing phase will begin in December 2025, with national rollout scheduled for February 2026. Over time, the register will evolve into a national educator registration scheme,  a shift with far-reaching implications for workforce policy, mobility and professional accountability.

 

Mandatory child safety training: capacity and equity

 

All ECEC staff, volunteers and students will be required to complete national child safety training, developed by the Australian Centre for Child Protection.

 

The training package will be free, with a federal grants program supporting small to medium providers to backfill staffing costs. Training will be available from early 2026, with subsidies commencing 1 July 2026.

 

CCTV assessment: evidence to guide policy

 

A national assessment of CCTV use in up to 300 services will commence this year. The trial, overseen by the Australian Centre for Child Protection and evaluated by an independent expert, will explore whether CCTV can be implemented as an effective child safety measure while addressing concerns around ethics, privacy and storage.

 

The final report, due in 2026, will provide the first national evidence base to guide consistent policy on CCTV use in ECEC.

 

Compliance, enforcement and penalties

 

Education Ministers also agreed to expand compliance mechanisms and strengthen deterrence to conduct unannounced spot checks which will begin in November 2025, jointly conducted by Commonwealth and state/territory officers.

 

Transparency and family trust

 

From September 2025, families will have access to expanded compliance information on StartingBlocks.gov.au, including:

 

• Date of last regulator visit.
• Conditions imposed on services.
• Compliance breaches and enforcement actions.

 

By October 2025, Ministers will also consider requiring services to physically display compliance breaches.

 

The policy horizon

 

While most educators act with professionalism and integrity, Ministers emphasised that child safety demands continuous vigilance and system-wide accountability.

 

The reforms represent both an immediate tightening of safeguards and a long-term trajectory towards greater national consistency in workforce regulation, child protection and family transparency.

 

Key intersections remain with broader policy agendas, including:

 

• Attorneys-General efforts to reform WWCCs.
• National workforce attraction and retention strategies.
• Ongoing reviews of the NQF.

 

The reforms will be phased in from late 2025, with further implementation scheduled through 2026. Ministers noted that these measures build on existing commitments under the National Quality Framework and align with ongoing work to strengthen workforce policy and child safety nationally.

 

Read the full joint action information here.