New Childcare Safety Reforms Across Australia: What Parents Need to Know
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阅读时间 2 min
Australia’s childcare sector is undergoing its biggest safety shake-up in years.
Following recent high-profile incidents, both federal and state governments have announced new rules, trials, and reforms designed to make early learning centres safer, more transparent, and more accountable.
Here’s a breakdown of the changes parents and providers need to be aware of.
“Child care should be a place of safety and trust… These reforms will help rebuild that trust.” Federal Education Minister Jason Clare
Federal Government Changes
At the national level, several major reforms are rolling out to strengthen child safety across all early learning centres:
National Educator Register – From early 2026 , a new database will track all childcare staff, including employment history and disciplinary actions, giving families more confidence in who is caring for children.
CCTV Trial in Centres – From October–November 2025 , 300 centres will begin a government-backed CCTV trial to improve oversight and safety.
Mobile Phone Ban – From September 2025 , staff must keep personal phones away from children during working hours.
Mandatory Safety Training – In 2026 , all childcare workers will complete new training developed by the Australian Centre for Child Protection.
Stricter Enforcement – Over 1,600 extra spot checks will take place, and parents will soon be able to view safety and compliance records online.
State and Territory Actions
Alongside federal reforms, states and territories are introducing their own measures:
Victoria – $42 million committed to implementing all 22 recommendations from a recent review, including more unannounced inspections and tighter oversight of for-profit centres.
New South Wales – CCTV is being installed in centres with compliance concerns, alongside plans for an independent childcare regulator .
Other States – WA and others are backing CCTV expansion, with providers like Goodstart and G8 Education already rolling out cameras.
Privacy and CCTV Rules
While CCTV is central to these reforms, strict privacy protections apply:
No cameras in private areas (bathrooms, nappy change zones)
Secure, encrypted storage of footage
Clear signage and parent/staff notification
Footage deletion within 14–30 days
From 1 September 2025 , new rules under the National Quality Framework (NQF) will require all centres to follow strict privacy and transparency standards when using CCTV.
What This Means for Parents
These reforms are designed to rebuild trust in childcare . For families, this means:
More transparency about who is working with children
Stronger safeguards inside centres
Greater accountability for providers that fail to meet standards
Final Word
Choosing a childcare centre is one of the most important decisions for families. These reforms aim to ensure parents can feel confident their children are not only being educated and cared for - but also protected by the highest safety standards .