QIP Priorities for Early Childhood Services

With new child safety regulations having just come into effect, here’s a sector-responsive list of Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) priorities that services across Australia should consider updating immediately. These priorities align with the National Quality Standard (NQS), recent regulatory changes, and sector best practice.

Child Safety Policy Enhancements

NQS Quality Areas: QA2 (Children’s Health and Safety), QA7 (Governance and Leadership)

Embed child safety into service philosophy and leadership practices
Review and update risk assessments for physical and digital environments
Ensure staff training includes trauma-informed practice and mandatory reporting obligations

Safe Use of Digital Technologies

Linked to Regulation 168 (New as of today)

Develop or revise policies for image/video capture, device use, and surveillance
Implement parental consent protocols for digital content
Audit educator use of service-issued devices and children’s access to technology

Rapid Incident Reporting Protocols

Linked to Regulation 176 (Updated today)

Update internal workflows to ensure serious incidents (e.g., abuse allegations) are reported within 24 hours
Train staff on new timeframes and escalation procedures
Include clear documentation templates and communication pathways

Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environments

Linked to Regulation 82 (Expanded today)

Update health and safety policies to explicitly ban vaping
Conduct environmental audits to ensure compliance
Communicate changes to families and staff

Staff Wellbeing and Psychological Safety

NQS Quality Areas: QA4 (Staffing Arrangements), QA7

Embed debriefing protocols after violent or distressing incidents
Include well-being goals in staff development plans
Provide access to EAP, peer support, and trauma-informed resources

Family Engagement in Safety Planning

NQS Quality Areas: QA6 (Collaborative Partnerships with Families)

Co-design behaviour support plans with families
Use emotionally intelligent communication templates for incidents
Offer parent workshops on regulation, trauma, and digital safety

Continuous Improvement Culture

NQS Quality Areas: QA1–QA7

Use ACECQA’s Self-Assessment Tool to identify gaps
Align QIP goals with new regulatory expectations
Celebrate strengths while prioritizing areas of risk and reform

SMART Goals For These Priorities

Here’s a set of SMART goals tailored for early childhood services updating their Quality Improvement Plans (QIP) in response to the new child safety regulations effective today, 1 September 2025.

Each goal is

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound

These goals align with NQS Quality Areas 2, 6, and 7, and reflect sector priorities around safety, digital policy, and staff well-being.

1. Strengthen Child Safety Policy Implementation

Goal:
By 30 September 2025, review and update the service’s child safety policy to reflect new NQF regulations, including digital technology use, incident reporting timeframes, and vaping bans.

Conduct a team policy review session
Update documentation and share with families
Submit revised policy to the approved provider for endorsement

2. Embed Safe Digital Practices

Goal:
By 15 October 2025, implement a new digital technology policy that includes parental consent protocols, educator device use guidelines, and image/video storage procedures.

Draft policy using ACECQA’s model templates
Host a staff training session on safe digital practices
Distribute updated policy to families with opt-in forms

3. Improve Incident Reporting Timeliness

Goal:
By 1 November 2025, ensure 100% of serious incidents are reported to the regulatory authority within 24 hours, in line with updated Regulation 176.

Create a visual incident flowchart for staff
Train all educators on new reporting timeframes
Audit incident reports monthly for compliance

4. Support Educator Psychological Safety

Goal:
By 30 November 2025, establish a formal debriefing protocol for staff following violent or distressing incidents involving children.

Develop a trauma-informed debrief template
Train room leaders in facilitation
Include well-being check-ins in team meetings

5. Co-Design Behaviour Support Plans with Families

Goal:
By 15 December 2025, ensure that 100% of children with repeated challenging behaviours have a co-developed behaviour support plan involving family input.