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South Australia freehold early learning centre sale: What the Blair Athol deal highlights for ECEC in 2026
A South Australian freehold early learning centre at 381–387 Prospect Road, Blair Athol has been reported as sold and settled through XCommercial Melbourne in conjunction with CBRE. Separate property reporting states the site was sold to Sydney operator Bright Steps for $7.843 million. For ECEC leaders, the story highlights a 2026 reality: premises transactions sit alongside child safety and governance obligations, approved providers need documented due diligence on physical environment upkeep (Regulation 103), historical compliance actions, and readiness-to-operate systems.
2026-01-20 07:00:03
by Fiona Alston
Quality
Policy
Practice
Provider
Playground safety checks in early learning: Why regular equipment inspections matter in 2026
Recent reports of playground injuries in early learning settings have identified the critical role of routine playground inspections, as updated 2026 regulatory reforms place greater emphasis on child safety, risk management and service-level governance.
2026-01-19 07:30:49
by Fiona Alston
Policy
Quality
Provider
Practice
Approved provider to be charged over serious child safety allegations in Victoria
The Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) shall be bringing 13 criminal charges against Team Holiday Pty Ltd, trading as TeamKids, in relation to serious alleged breaches of the Education and Care Services National Law that may have placed children at risk.
2026-01-19 07:00:40
by Fiona Alston
Policy
Quality
Practice
Provider
Workforce
NSW signals tougher child safety oversight: what a funding boost to the Office of the Children’s Guardian could mean for ECEC services
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across New South Wales should expect increased compliance activity after the NSW Government announced additional funding to strengthen the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG), the state’s independent child safety regulator.
2026-01-14 13:45:15
by Fiona Alston
Policy
Quality
Practice
Provider
Looking ahead: What the ECEC sector can expect in 2026
As 2026 begins, early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across Australia are preparing for a year of substantial reform, focused on strengthening child safety and raising the bar on national standards. Following a series of agreements by Education Ministers in 2025, new changes to the National Quality Framework (NQF) and the Education and Care Services National Law will take effect progressively throughout the year. These reforms reflect the shared commitment of educators, families, communities and governments to place child safety and wellbeing at the centre of early learning environments.
2026-01-12 07:15:47
by Fiona Alston
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Looking ahead: What the ECEC sector can expect in 2026
2026-01-12 07:15:47
by Fiona Alston
Policy
Practice
Provider
Quality
Standard 7.1 now explicitly embeds child safety: What “governance” needs to look like in 2026
2026-01-16 07:15:42
by Fiona Alston
Workforce
Quality
Practice
Provider
Sustaining the spark: How early childhood leaders and educators can avoid burnout
2026-01-12 08:00:31
by Fiona Alston
