Victorian early childhood teachers have won a 32% pay increase over four years, a landmark deal that finally places them on parity with school teachers. The agreement, reached between the Australian Education Union (AEU) and the Victorian government, follows years of campaigning and industrial action. Some teachers will see rises of up to 39%, with immediate boosts of 13–16.7% this year.

On March 31, 2026, the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) announced a 90-day suspension of Milestones Early Learning Werribee, operated by Affinity Education Group. The suspension, effective April 13, follows findings of serious breaches of the Education and Care Services National Law, specifically around children’s health, safety, and wellbeing.

***WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT***

Victorian detectives have laid 83 additional charges against former Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, expanding the total number of alleged offences to 156. The new charges stem from the identification of four additional alleged victims, alongside further offences connected to the eight children previously identified earlier this year. Health authorities have confirmed that no further child testing is required, and no new childcare centres have been flagged as concerning in relation to the latest charges.

Early childhood teachers across Victoria are sounding the alarm over new childcare reforms, warning that the changes are piling administrative burdens onto staff and eroding the joy of teaching.

In a bold move toward future-proofing early learning environments, a Brisbane early learning centre has become one of the first in Queensland to introduce AI-powered security systems, marking a significant leap in how childcare services protect children, staff, and families.

Early childhood education services across Victoria have been significantly disrupted as educators stage a widespread strike on Tuesday, 16th September. The industrial action follows a prolonged 15-month negotiation period during which the Victorian state government has failed to present a pay offer to educators.

A male childcare worker in Victoria, identified only as "Peter" for legal reasons, has publicly denied allegations of sexually abusing toddlers and is appealing a ban imposed by the Victorian Education Department. The case has sparked widespread concern over regulatory failures and child safety protocols in early childhood education.

Victoria is introducing urgent legislative reforms to strengthen child safety protections by enabling the immediate suspension of Working With Children Checks (WWCCs) for individuals under reassessment for cancellation.

Victoria is set to overhaul its child safety framework, with new legislation fast-tracked through Parliament to address systemic gaps in the Working With Children Check (WWCC) process. 

The Victorian government has announced sweeping reforms to its childcare regulatory system in response to a damning review triggered by serious allegations of child abuse in early childhood services.