At present, “under the roof” ratios are not yet formally abolished in law, but Education Ministers announced in February 2026 that they intend to remove this practice. ACECQA has flagged that ratios will soon be required per room, with educators counted only when physically present and supervising children.

Until the National Law and Regulations are officially amended and ACECQA issues binding guidance, services using service‑wide calculations are not breaching current regulations, provided they maintain adequate supervision.

On July 15, educators are once again being called to walk off the job, demanding a 15% wage increase. It’s a familiar rallying cry, one we’ve heard in previous years, with little lasting change. Yet while wages matter, the government has already acted through the gender pay equity evaluation, with increases scheduled over the next five years. The real crisis isn’t pay. It’s ratios.

Every abuse case, every supervision failure, every moment when educators are stretched too thin points to one undeniable truth: without safe ratios, children are at risk and educators are set up to fail. Walking off for wages already promised risks missing the bigger fight. If we want to transform early childhood education, protect children, and restore trust, our collective energy must shift toward demanding ratio reform.

Negotiation is not just about money; it’s about recognition. As an ECT, you bring expertise, leadership, and stability to services. By approaching wage discussions with confidence and professionalism, you can ensure their contributions are valued and sustained.

Risky play in OOSH services is encouraged as a way to build children’s confidence, resilience, and risk-assessment skills, but it must be balanced with structured risk management and compliance practices. 

In Out of School Hours care, educators manage large groups of children in dynamic environments where safety, belonging, and engagement must coexist. One of the most essential, yet often contested, practices is the roll call and headcount.

This article explores practical strategies to help OOSH educators balance safety with connection, reduce parent complaints, and transform roll call into a positive ritual.

For OOSH (Out of School Hours) children, Reconciliation Week topics should focus on identity, respect, caring for Country, storytelling, friendship, and truth-telling. These themes help children understand Australia’s shared history and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in age‑appropriate ways. 

Reconciliation in early childhood is not a one‑week event; it’s a daily practice. Embedding reconciliation means weaving respect, truth‑telling, and cultural awareness into routines, environments, and relationships. For educators, this is about creating spaces where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are visible, valued, and celebrated.

In early childhood, the playground is more than a place to play; it's a living classroom. Caring for Country invites children to see the land as a friend, not just a space. Through simple, sensory experiences, educators can nurture respect for nature and embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in everyday play.

Early childhood services often require staff to arrive before their rostered start time, to set up rooms, prepare learning materials, or ensure safety checks are complete. But when does this preparation count as paid work?

When children are pressured to immediately say “sorry” after causing harm, they often learn that apologies are just words, a quick escape from discomfort. This teaches compliance, not compassion. It can unintentionally encourage dishonesty, as children may say the words without truly meaning them.