AI-assisted supervision tools are becoming more common in Australian childcare, but the market is new and claims vary widely between vendors. Before signing up, owners and directors should ask a consistent set of questions covering privacy, data handling, reliability and cost.
This guide sets out a neutral ten-question checklist you can use with any vendor, followed by how SooperVision answers each one. Use it alongside your own legal and privacy advice, since requirements can vary by state and by your service's specific camera setup.
The 10-question buyer checklist
These questions are designed to be vendor-neutral. Ask any AI supervision provider to answer them in writing before you sign a contract.
| # | Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Is video processed on-site or sent to the cloud? | Affects bandwidth, latency and privacy exposure |
| 2 | Is face recognition switched on or off, and can it be turned off? | Determines whether individuals are identified |
| 3 | Where is data hosted and stored? | Relevant to Privacy Act and state surveillance obligations |
| 4 | Does it work with our existing cameras? | Avoids a full camera replacement cost |
| 5 | How fast are alerts generated and delivered? | Affects how useful alerts are in practice |
| 6 | How are false alerts managed? | Too many false alerts leads to alert fatigue |
| 7 | How is educator privacy protected? | Staff should not be individually tracked or scored |
| 8 | What is the pricing model? | Per-centre vs per-camera pricing affects total cost |
| 9 | Is support based in Australia? | Affects response times and understanding of local regulations |
| 10 | Is the platform independently certified, e.g. ISO 27001? | Evidence of information security practices |
How SooperVision answers each question
SooperVision is AI supervision software for Australian childcare centres, built on the FaceTagr platform. Here is how it answers the checklist above, so you can compare it against any other vendor using the same questions.
- On-site vs cloud: video is processed on-site, reducing the amount of footage that needs to leave the centre
- Face recognition: switched off for CCTV supervision by default, it detects people and safety events, not identities; faces are blurred in alert snapshots
- Data location: data is hosted in Australia
- Existing cameras: designed to work with many existing camera setups, reviewed on a per-centre basis before onboarding
- Alert speed: AI-assisted alerts are generated for safety events to support timely educator attention
- False alerts: alert thresholds can be reviewed and tuned with your centre during onboarding
- Educator privacy: CCTV supervision never identifies, tracks or scores individual educators, and it is focused only on safety events
- Pricing model: from A$350 per centre per month (ex GST), a flat per-centre model rather than per-camera
- Australian support: support is provided locally during business hours
- Certification: built on the FaceTagr platform, which is ISO 27001-certified
What to do once you have the answers
Compare answers across at least two vendors before deciding, and ask for the privacy and data handling answers in writing so they can be referenced in your service's privacy documentation. It's also worth asking how long onboarding takes: most single-centre services are live within a few weeks of the camera review, rather than overnight, since cameras and alert zones need to be checked for your specific site.
Finally, remember that any AI supervision tool is designed to support educators, not replace active supervision practices required under the National Quality Standard. Keep your supervision plans, sleep checks and yard zoning in place regardless of which tool you choose.
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General information only, not legal advice. Check current requirements with your state or territory regulatory authority.