Education Minister’s meeting completed: Early Learning Commission, CCTV and supervision reforms all on agenda 

The much anticipated third and final Education Ministers meeting of 2026 has now been completed with Education Ministers from across Australia reaching agreements in principle to progress key reforms and changes on several issues central to the early learning sector. 

Child safety, both the national assessment of CCTV trials and potential reforms to strengthen supervision arrangements as well as the establishment of an Early Learning Commission were all on the agenda. 

“Together, we want to strengthen Australia’s sector, because we know just how much our nation’s dedicated early educators bring to the lives of children and families,” Dr Jess Walsh, Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education said. 

“I thank my colleagues from around the country for their collaboration and support to make this progress, and look forward to continuing to work with Jason Clare MP to progress this important reform.”

Early Learning Commission gets provisional go-ahead but much more work to be done

Ministers were also briefed on stakeholder consultation undertaken on a potential National Early Education and Care Commission (EEC Commission) since their initial decision to explore this reform made in July 2026.

They agreed that the purpose of the proposed national EEC Commission will be “to improve outcomes for children by working with governments to provide national leadership to ensure the safety, rights and best interests of children are paramount, and strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence in the ECEC sector through better evidence and insights into system performance, quality, safety, and outcomes.”

The key functions of the Commission would include analytics and insights on supply and demand, market shape and workforce development, and a strategic approach to quality safety and regulation of the sector.

Ministers also agreed to an approach to effective stewardship of the ECEC system, including shared principles and characteristics to guide how governments, a potential Commission and the sector could work together to steward the system.

From a broader sector perspective the commitment to progress this important reform will be well received but there is much work, and time, needed before a more concrete roadmap to creating the new body is finalised. 

Child safety update yielded commitments to progress key matters

Ministers considered the findings from the National Assessment of CCTV use in ECEC settings with an Expert Reference Panel comprising the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Centre for Child Protection (ACCP), as well as other privacy and surveillance experts supporting the evaluation. 

The assessment was based on information collected from more than 300 services with Ministers agreeing to develop national best practice guidance in the coming months. 

In addition, Ministers also agreed to further reforms to strengthen supervision arrangements, including regulatory change to define factors relevant in determining and assessing whether supervision is adequate. 

This included progressing the next stage of Working Towards Qualification reforms by developing a voluntary National Model Code for when educators working towards a qualification may be counted in educator-to-child ratios.

No specifics regarding the detail around the reforms which are considered by many to be the focussing on “under the roof ratio” practices and potentially lowering ratios in some circumstances and are therefore important from a child safety perspective but an operational one too.

The Education Ministers are expected to meet again in early 2027. The Communique for this meeting will be available here.