National child safety training: what the new service closure allowance means for ECEC providers

Early childhood education and care services can now schedule limited evening closures so educators can complete mandatory national child safety training. The measure aims to support workforce development while minimising disruption for families.

Maintaining safe environments for children remains a core obligation across the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector. Ongoing professional learning plays an important role in strengthening these safeguards, particularly as national child safety expectations continue to evolve.

Recognising the operational challenges services face when scheduling mandatory training, the Australian Government has introduced a new provision allowing approved services to close for a short period each year to complete national child safety training.

The measure aims to balance educator professional development with continuity of care for families.

Under the guidance, Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approved services may close for up to five hours per calendar year to allow educators to complete mandatory national child safety training.

The closure period provides dedicated time for educators to engage with the training without the competing responsibility of supervising children.

Importantly, services may continue to claim CCS during the approved closure period, supporting operational stability while training is undertaken.

To minimise disruption for families, closures must begin no earlier than 5pm, ensuring standard daytime operating hours remain unaffected.

Further information about the measure is available via the Australian Government Department of Education guidance on national child safety training service closures website.

The provision applies across several approved service types within the ECEC sector:

• centre-based day care
• outside school hours care
• family day care
• in-home care

For centre-based day care and outside school hours care, the closure applies to the entire service.

For family day care and in-home care, the five-hour allowance applies per educator. Individual educators may be unavailable between 5pm and their usual closing time, up to a maximum of midnight.

This approach ensures educators working across different service models can access supported time to complete the required training.

Provider responsibilities

Services choosing to use the training closure allowance must ensure the arrangement is planned and clearly communicated.

Approved providers are responsible for:

• scheduling closures in advance
• notifying families early
• ensuring educators complete the mandatory training
• maintaining appropriate records

Unplanned closures are not permitted under the measure. Advance notice supports transparency and allows families time to arrange alternative supervision if required.

Although services close during the training period, Family Assistance Law requirements remain in place.

Where CCS is claimed, families must continue to pay the gap fee, even if children are not attending during the closure period.

Providers should ensure families understand how the closure will appear in billing records and statements.

Accurate documentation, including records of the scheduled closure, educator participation and family notifications, will also support compliance with regulatory and funding requirements.

Communicating with families

Clear and early communication will support a smoother implementation of the measure.

Families should receive advance notice of the closure and an explanation of its purpose. Many services may communicate the change through direct email, newsletters or digital family communication platforms.

Positioning the training as part of a broader commitment to child safety and sector standards may also help families understand the importance of the measure.

The five-hour training closure allowance provides services with a practical way to complete mandatory child safety training while maintaining daytime care for families.

With careful planning, transparent communication and appropriate record keeping, providers and centre managers can implement the measure while continuing to prioritise both educator development and children’s safety.