Childcare Safety Reforms 2026: What Australian Providers Must Do

Following a series of reviews and public concern about safety in early learning, Australian governments have been progressing a package of national child safety reforms affecting the early childhood education and care sector. The reforms touch worker screening, training, penalties, device use and the use of CCTV.

Below is the dated timeline of the main changes, based on ACECQA's Progress on Child Safety review recommendations.

1 September 2025

Physical or sexual abuse allegations must be notified to the regulatory authority within 24 hours (previously 7 days). Services must have policies on the safe use of digital technologies, including parental consent for images, and a policy for any CCTV they use (regulation 168): telling families, how footage is stored and accessed, and timely access for authorised officers and police.

1 January 2026

National Quality Standard refined. Element 2.2.3 becomes Child Safety and Protection, and Quality Area 7 now refers to a child safe service.

2 January 2026

Maximum penalties under the National Law increased, with more infringement offences.

27 February 2026

Personal devices banned while working directly with children in centre-based services (sections 175E-175J). Mandatory child safety training for nominated supervisors, staff and volunteers. A current Working With Children Check is required before starting work. New "inappropriate conduct" offence. No new service waivers for regulation 115 (premises designed for supervision). National Early Childhood Worker Register rollout begins. See our guide to educator personal phone policy for how to put the device ban into practice.

April to June 2026

National CCTV assessment data collection in up to 300 services; guidance on best practice expected. See our dedicated guide to CCTV in childcare for more detail.

Owner and director checklist

Use this checklist as a starting point to prepare your service; confirm specifics with your state regulatory authority and education.gov.au:

Confirm all staff working with children checks are current and correctly recorded
Review child safety and mandatory reporting training records and schedule refreshers
Check your Quality Improvement Plan reflects current child safety and supervision priorities
Review your personal device policy and update if needed
If you use CCTV, confirm placement, notice to families and retention practices meet privacy guidance
Review incident and complaint records for patterns that need addressing
Brief your team on reform changes relevant to your state
Check that your CCTV policy, device policy and abuse-notification procedure reflect these dates.

Sources

General information only, not legal advice. Check current requirements with your state or territory regulatory authority.

Frequently asked questions

What is the National Early Childhood Worker Register?

It is a national register giving regulators a consistent way to track early childhood worker information, including working with children checks, across states and territories. Its rollout began on 27 February 2026.

Have penalties for childcare safety breaches increased?

Yes. From 2 January 2026, maximum penalties under the Education and Care Services National Law increased nationally, with more infringement offences.

Is CCTV now mandatory for all childcare services?

No. A government-commissioned assessment examined CCTV use in a sample of up to 300 services; it was a feasibility review, not a universal mandate.

Are personal phones banned in childcare centres?

Yes. From 27 February 2026, sections 175E-175J of the Education and Care Services National Law prohibit staff and volunteers in centre-based services from using or carrying a personal device while working directly with children, with limited exceptions. Written authorisations from the approved provider must be kept for at least 3 years.

Do these reforms apply to every state the same way?

National reforms are generally implemented through each state and territory's own regulations under the National Law, so timing and detail can differ. Always check your state regulatory authority's current guidance.

Where can I get the most current information?

education.gov.au is the primary source for national child safety reform updates, alongside your state or territory regulatory authority and ACECQA.

Childcare Safety Reforms 2026: What Providers Need to Know