“Kindy Cops” and Cameras: Federal Crackdown on Childcare Safety

In response to mounting concerns over child safety and regulatory failures in early childhood education, the Australian Federal Government is introducing sweeping reforms that will see federal officers—dubbed “kindy cops”—conduct unannounced inspections of childcare centres, alongside mandatory installation of CCTV cameras.

What’s Changing?

Under the proposed legislation:

• Unannounced Spot Checks: Federal officers will be empowered to conduct surprise inspections of childcare centres without needing a warrant or police accompaniment. These checks will focus on:

  • Verifying child attendance to prevent fraud

  • Assessing compliance with child safety regulations

• Mandatory CCTV Cameras: The legislation is expected to require all childcare centres to install surveillance cameras. The aim is to:

  • Deter misconduct by staff

  • Provide evidence in cases of suspected abuse or neglect

• Stronger Enforcement Powers: The reforms will give the Department of Education greater authority to investigate and penalize non-compliant providers, including stripping federal funding from centres that fail to meet safety standards.

These reforms aim to close loopholes that have allowed unsafe practices and fraudulent behaviour to go undetected in the sector.

 Government’s Position

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare described the changes as “serious action for a serious problem,” following revelations of abuse and neglect in multiple centres. “We’ve seen too many cases where children were harmed, and nothing was done until it was too late,” he said.

The reforms are part of a broader effort to restore public trust in the early childhood education system and ensure that every child is safe, supported, and seen.

Bipartisan and State Support

The initiative has received bipartisan backing, with Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie supporting the “kindy cop” approach. State and territory governments, including Victoria and the ACT, are also reviewing their own regulatory frameworks to align with the federal push.

Why Now?

The reforms follow a series of high-profile investigations revealing:

• Unqualified or undertrained staff
• Children left unsupervised or placed in unsafe environments
• Regulatory bodies failing to act on repeated breaches

The proposed laws are designed to give regulators real-time oversight and the power to intervene before harm occurs.

What It Means for Providers

Childcare providers will need to:

• Prepare for unannounced federal inspections
• Install and maintain CCTV systems in line with privacy and safeguarding laws
• Ensure all staff are trained, qualified, and compliant with national standards

Further Reading 

We Care We Speak We Protect - A Practical Advocacy Guide for Early Childhood Educators
Four Eyes Policy
Keeping Children Safe: Practical Solutions in Light of the Melbourne Abuse Case

Reference:
Kindy Cops' and Cameras Headed For Childcare Centres Under Proposed New Laws