The Sector Connect+ announces ECEC Compliance and Risk Forum - Beyond Compliance: From Response to Recovery

Australia’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector is undergoing a transformation not seen in a generation. 

A series of nationally recognised high profile child incidents has triggered a complete overhaul in oversight that has elevated expectations around child safety, governance, organisational culture and risk materially whilst operating conditions across the board remain challenging. 

Providers are at the forefront of these changes; managing incidents, rebuilding trust and investing in prevention. Building services and organisations that are not only compliant, but resilient, accountable and prepared for what comes next is a central theme. 

This shift will sit at the centre of The Sector Connect+ ECEC Compliance & Risk Forum 2026, which will explore one of the key questions facing the sector:

What does it take to build an organisation that can respond with confidence to unfolding issues, rebuild trust and culture thereafter and continue to strengthen quality over time?

On Friday 4 September 2026, The Sector Connect+ will bring together approved providers, executives, nominated supervisors, governance professionals, quality leaders and sector specialists for the ECEC Compliance & Risk Forum 2026, held under the theme Beyond Compliance: From Response to Recovery

Held at Waterview, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park, the forum will explore how ECEC organisations are navigating regulatory issues in real time and can strengthen their approach to prevention, response and recovery while building the leadership capability required in an increasingly complex operating environment.

This is not just another compliance conference

The Forum has been designed to move beyond traditional discussions about compliance requirements and focus on the actual systems, behaviours and leadership decisions that are influencing quality, safety and organisational outcomes.

Compliance provides the foundation, but strong early learning services and organisations are built through leadership, proactive systems, confident decision-making and a culture of continuous improvement.

Across the day, sector leaders will explore the three critical stages of organisational resilience:

Response
How to lead with confidence as incidents unfold, support families and teams and make informed decisions when it matters most.

Recovery
How to rebuild trust, strengthen practice and use lessons learned to drive continuous improvement.

Prevention
How to identify risks early, recognise warning signs and strengthen governance systems in a practical manner before issues escalate.

Through panel discussions and leadership conversations, delegates will explore:

• what effective governance and oversight looks like in practice;
• how organisational culture influences quality and safety;
• the role of communication and psychological safety;
• how services respond during periods of challenge or crisis; and
• how organisations use incidents, complaints and near misses as opportunities for improvement.

The Sector Connect+ ECEC Compliance & Risk Forum 2026 is proudly supported by Panel Sponsors Storypark and ChildAware.

For Storypark, supporting the Forum reflects the importance of collective action in strengthening child safety across the ECEC sector.

"Keeping children safe isn't something any of us can do alone. That's why we're proud to support a forum that goes beyond compliance to ask how the sector can build services where children are safe and thriving. It's a conversation we care about at Storypark, and one we want to be part of, alongside the leaders and educators doing this work every day." 

- Katie Dowle, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Storypark

Policy in Practice: Navigating Compliance in a New Era

With ongoing national reform, changes to the National Law and Regulations, and increasing focus on approved provider accountability, understanding how policy translates into everyday practice has never been more important.

This discussion will bring together sector voices to explore how providers can strengthen governance frameworks, align systems with regulatory expectations and prepare for emerging changes across the sector.

The conversation will examine the practical realities of implementing reform while maintaining quality, consistency and confidence across services.

Beyond Best Practice: Real Lessons from the Front Line

Compliance and quality challenges rarely occur because organisations do not care; they often emerge through gaps in systems, communication, leadership or oversight.

This session will move beyond theory to explore real leadership experiences and the moments that have shaped early learning services and organisational improvement.

Panellists will reflect on:

• compliance challenges and lessons learned;
• quality areas that became vulnerable despite strong intentions;
• near misses that created opportunities for improvement;
• navigating complex regulatory situations; and
• leadership decisions and organisational changes that strengthened quality and reduced risk.

The focus will not be on perfect outcomes, but on honest reflection, practical problem-solving and continuous improvement.

From Risk Identification to Resilient Practice in ECEC

Identifying risk early is one of the strongest safeguards available to ECEC services and organisations.

This discussion will explore how providers can create environments where risks are recognised, escalated and addressed before they become critical.

Topics will include:

• early warning signs and risk indicators;
• incident management systems and escalation pathways;
• psychologically safe workplaces;
• crisis communication and media management;
• digital safety and emerging technology risks;
• governance, insurance and accountability; and
• using complaints, feedback and near misses to strengthen systems.

Delegates will gain practical strategies to review their current approach and strengthen organisational readiness.

Fireside Chat: Leading Beyond Compliance

The Forum will also include a fireside conversation exploring leadership, governance and the role of organisational culture in creating safer, stronger services.

The discussion will consider how ECEC organisations can strengthen safety leadership, workforce capability, proactive risk management and continuous improvement beyond minimum compliance expectations.

Why this conversation matters now

ECEC leaders are operating in an environment where expectations around quality, safety, governance and accountability continue to evolve.

Today’s leaders are required to balance quality improvement, workforce pressures, regulatory obligations, child safety expectations and community trust while continuing to deliver positive outcomes for children and families.

The strongest organisations understand compliance is not simply a requirement to meet, but a foundation from which safer systems, stronger teams and thriving services are built.

The Sector Connect+ ECEC Compliance & Risk Forum provides an opportunity for leaders to come together, share experiences and explore practical approaches to building organisations prepared for the future.

Who should attend

The event has been designed for:

• Approved Providers
• CEOs and Executive Leaders
• Nominated Supervisors
• Heads of Quality
• Heads of Risk and Compliance
• Operations Managers
• Governance Professionals
• Policy and Regulatory Leaders

Event details

Date: Friday 4 September 2026
Location: Waterview, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park
Time: 8.30am registration | 9.00am start – 4.30pm close

As the sector continues to evolve, The Sector Connect+ ECEC Compliance & Risk Forum 2026 -Beyond Compliance: From Response to Recovery provides an opportunity for leaders to come together, share insights and explore practical approaches to building safer, stronger and more resilient ECEC organisations.

Secure your place at the ECEC Compliance & Risk Forum 2026.

Further details, including speaker announcements, will be released in the coming weeks.