NSW families given clearer guidance on child safety in ECEC services

Families in New South Wales now have direct access to plain-language information about child safety in early childhood education and care (ECEC), with the NSW Early Learning Commission publishing resources that explain what a child safe service looks like, how concerns can be raised, and what parents and carers can expect from providers.

The guidance is designed to help families better understand child safe practices when choosing a service and throughout their child’s early learning journey. It also encourages parents and carers to speak with services about how children are kept safe in everyday practice. 

For ECEC services, the message is clear: child safety must be visible, understood and confidently communicated.

Why this matters for providers and services

Parents and carers are being given more information about what “good” child safety practice looks like.

The Commission’s resources explain that ECEC and outside school hours care services must comply with the National Law and Regulations and implement the Child Safe Standards under the NSW Child Safe Scheme. 

This means families may increasingly ask services about policies, supervision, complaints handling, staff obligations and how children’s safety and wellbeing are protected in practice.

For providers, nominated supervisors and service leaders, this creates both a regulatory responsibility and an opportunity to build trust through clear, open communication.

What families are being told

The NSW Early Learning Commission has developed resources to help parents and carers recognise child safe practices in ECEC settings and understand what to expect from their child’s service. These include a fact sheet explaining what a child safe ECEC service looks like, and a guide with questions families can ask when choosing or engaging with a service. 

Services should be prepared to speak confidently about:

• child safety and child protection policies
• supervision and risk management practices
• incident and complaints procedures
• staff child protection obligations
• how children’s voices are heard and respected
• how concerns from families are received and responded to

The Commission also states that approved providers and services are encouraged to share the resources with families and engage in proactive conversations about how they support children’s safety. 

Compliance history and transparency

One of the clearest messages in the guidance is the importance of transparency.

The Commission states that a service’s compliance history should be readily available to parents and carers, and that families can request a copy from the service at any time. 

For services, this reinforces the need to ensure compliance information is current, accurate and accessible. It also highlights the importance of being able to explain previous compliance matters, where relevant, in a way that is factual, transparent and focused on improvement.

Responding to concerns and complaints

The guidance encourages families to first raise suggestions, concerns or complaints with the service director, manager or a staff member. It also advises families to ask to see the service’s complaints policy or written procedures, be clear about the issue, and request access to relevant policies and procedures. 

Services are obligated to respond to feedback or complaints. The Commission also notes that services must notify the NSW Early Learning Commission within 24 hours if a complaint alleges that a child’s health, safety or wellbeing has been compromised, or that the service has not complied with the National Law or Regulations. 

Where families feel their concern has not been addressed, or where it is not appropriate to raise it directly with the service, they are advised they can contact the NSW Early Learning Commission.

How services can respond now

The publication of these resources provides a practical prompt for services to review how child safety is communicated to families.

Services may wish to consider whether:

• child safety resources are included in enrolment packs, newsletters or family communications
• child protection, supervision, incident and complaints policies are easy for families to access
• educators and leaders can explain child safety practices in clear, consistent language
• compliance history information is ready to provide if requested
• families know how to raise concerns and who to speak to
• child safe practices are visible in everyday routines, not only in written documents

These actions do not replace formal compliance obligations, but they can help families see how child safety is embedded in the service’s culture and daily operations.

A shift from compliance to confidence

The NSW Early Learning Commission says it regulates ECEC and OOSH services to ensure children are kept safe and have access to quality education and care. Its responsibilities include enforcing compliance with the National Law and Regulations, investigating serious incidents, responding to concerns, assessing and rating services, and supporting the sector to strengthen child safe culture, behaviours and practices. 

For the sector, the publication of family-facing child safety resources is more than an information update. It reflects a broader shift toward transparency, shared accountability and stronger family engagement.

Families want to know that children are safe, respected and protected. Services that can demonstrate this clearly, calmly and consistently will be better placed to build trust and show that child safety is not just a policy requirement, but a core part of everyday practice.

Further information and family resources are available on the NSW Early Learning Commission website.