A coalition of 55 early childhood experts has unveiled a bold six-point plan urging governments to take decisive action to restore public trust in Australia’s childcare system. Sparked by revelations from a year-long ABC investigation, the plan responds to widespread concerns about safety, quality, and transparency in early learning environments.

In a bold move to restore trust and transparency in early childhood education, the New South Wales Government has mandated that all ECEC services must publicly display their compliance and quality history within two weeks. This urgent directive follows a series of high-profile failures in the sector that have shaken public confidence and prompted calls for systemic reform.

The Australian Government Department of Education has engaged ORIMA Research to conduct an online ECEC Staff Survey. By collecting this data over time, the Department can get a better picture of the ECEC sector and how it is changing, including in relation to staff satisfaction with jobs, employment conditions, and workplace culture; staff well-being; staff views on the workings of the sector; and factors impacting attraction and retention in the ECEC sector.

A leading not-for-profit childcare provider has raised concerns about proposed safety regulations in the early childhood sector, cautioning that while well-intentioned, the new rules could have unintended consequences for both staff and families.

WARNING—DISTRESSING CONTENT: A chilling investigation by ABC’s Four Corners has uncovered how paedophiles are using the dark web to share detailed strategies for infiltrating childcare centers and abusing children, exposing a hidden crisis that experts say is far more organized and widespread than previously understood.

A childcare provider operating out of Floreat Park Primary School has been fined $28,000 following a serious lapse in supervision during a zoo excursion that left two children lost and others unsupervised.

In recent years, the early childhood education and care sector has faced a troubling rise in fraudulent qualifications, a threat not only to professional integrity but also to the safety and wellbeing of children. From forged certificates to unaccredited training providers, the issue has triggered national investigations and sweeping reforms.

As of 2024–2025, new national regulations across Australia have significantly tightened restrictions on smoking and vaping in and around early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. These changes reflect a growing commitment to child safety, educator well-being, and public health, and they’re now embedded in the Education and Care Services National Regulations and the National Quality Standard (NQS).

Across continents, a shared truth is emerging: children read better when they feel safe, supported, and free from judgment. In Finland, the lukukoira (reading dog) program has been quietly revolutionizing literacy since 2011. In Australia, similar programs are now flourishing in schools and libraries, offering children the chance to read aloud to calm, friendly dogs who simply listen.

In early childhood education and care, child safety is more than a policy—it’s a daily commitment to creating environments where children feel protected, respected, and empowered. While audits and investigations play a critical role in accountability, true safeguarding begins with proactive reflection. That’s where the Child Safe Self-Assessment tool from the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian steps in.