At the centre of this case is an incident captured on CCTV at an early learning service in Bathurst, where 18‑year‑old educator Hayley Kelleher grabbed and dragged a three‑year‑old boy by the arm during rest time. The child was not injured, but the action breached expected standards of conduct and resulted in a conviction for common assault. What the court documents also reveal, however, is that Kelleher was visibly overwhelmed, repeatedly sought help from a senior colleague, and was ignored—leaving a young, inexperienced educator to manage a high‑pressure situation entirely on her own.

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.

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.

A major childcare provider operating 18 centres across New South Wales has introduced a $20 fine for families who fail to follow prescribed drop-off and pick-up procedures. The move—framed as a compliance measure—has sparked widespread concern among families, educators, and advocates, especially given the provider’s recent scrutiny during a parliamentary inquiry into safety breaches.

In a moment of reckoning for one of the nation’s largest early childhood education providers, Tim Hickey, CEO of Affinity Education Group, has publicly apologised for a series of safety breaches across the organisation’s centres. His statement was delivered during a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry examining systemic issues in childcare safety and regulation.

As part of its commitment to expanding access to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC), the NSW Department of Education is offering targeted support to providers through the Flexible Initiatives Trial (FIT)—a $20 million program designed to help services test and trial new operating models. To help applicants navigate the competitive grant process, the department is hosting grant-writing workshops on the 25th of September, delivered online via MS Teams.

In a landmark move toward equity and empowerment, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) services are expanding across New South Wales, offering families more choice, more places, and more opportunities for culturally grounded early childhood education.

In a powerful step toward inclusive and culturally responsive education, early childhood educators across New South Wales are invited to a fee-free face-to-face workshop* with Jessica Staines, founder of Koori Curriculum, on Saturday, 1 November, at TAFE NSW Kingswood.

In a revelation that has shaken trust in New South Wales’ childcare oversight, a Guardian Australia investigation has uncovered a troubling gap between public safety ratings and internal risk assessments at childcare centers—leaving parents unaware of serious safety concerns.

An early childhood educator in Sydney has been charged with multiple offenses after Australian Federal Police (AFP) allegedly discovered more than 500,000 unique images of child abuse material on his electronic devices.