NSW child safety reforms to commence 24 April 2026

The next stage of NSW-specific legislative reforms under the Children (Education and Care Services National Law Application) Amendment Act 2025 will commence on 24 April 2026.

The reforms form part of a broader national focus on strengthening child safety and reflect the NSW Government’s commitment to ensuring children’s safety, wellbeing and rights remain central to service operations, governance and daily practice.

The April 2026 changes introduce a combination of new obligations, clarifications and strengthened enforcement measures.

Some reforms will require direct action from approved providers, services and staff, while others clarify existing obligations or enhance regulatory powers to support the safety and wellbeing of children.

The reforms fall into three key areas:

• New and strengthened requirements: Some changes will require services to review and update policies, procedures and practices.

These measures are designed to support stronger systems for preventing harm, responding to concerns and maintaining safe environments for children.

• Clarifying existing obligations: A number of reforms provide greater clarity around existing requirements under the National Law and Regulations.

These clarifications aim to support more consistent interpretation and application of obligations across services.

• Enhanced regulatory powers: The reforms also strengthen the NSW Department of Education’s ability to respond to identified risks.

These measures support more timely and decisive regulatory action and reinforce accountability across the sector.

The reforms commencing on 24 April 2026 form part of a multi-year program to strengthen child safety across NSW.

They reflect insights from regulatory activity, national reviews and sector experience.

For services, the reforms:

• reinforce proactive risk management
• strengthen leadership and governance expectations
• support more consistent and transparent practice
• embed child safety within everyday decision-making

For families, the changes support confidence that ECEC environments are safe, well regulated and responsive.

The NSW Early Learning Commission will continue to provide resources and guidance to support approved providers and services to understand, comply with and implement the new requirements in day-to-day practice.

Support available includes:

• updated guidance materials
• practice examples and case studies
• policy and procedure prompts
• webinars and information sessions
• targeted resources for approved providers and governance bodies

These resources are designed to assist services to translate legislative requirements into practical, child-centred approaches.

Services can access detailed information, including timelines and guidance, via the NSW Department of Education’s child safety reforms page.

 

Staying informed will support consistent implementation and help maintain a strong child safety culture across the sector.