Big changes are on the horizon for ECEC services under the NQF, with new child safety reforms rolling out in two phases from 01 September 2025 and 01 January 2026.
From 1 September 2025:
- 24-hour reporting: Services must notify regulatory authorities within 24 hours of becoming aware of any allegation, complaint, or incident involving physical or sexual abuse (down from the current 7-day window).
- Ban on vaping: All ECEC environments must be free from vaping substances and devices, expanding on existing bans for tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.
- Digital safety policies: Services must implement clear policies and procedures for the safe use of digital technologies, including image capture, device use, and online environments.
From 1 January 2026:
- Refinements to the National Quality Standard (NQS):
- Quality Area 2: Element 2.2.3 will become Child Safety and Protection, emphasizing staff responsibilities in identifying and responding to abuse or neglect.
- Quality Area 7: Governance and leadership will explicitly include child safety in systems, policies, and continuous improvement practices.
Why So Much Noise?
A Royal Commission, two national inquiries, and the 2018 National Principles for Child Safe Organizations all landed on the same verdict: existing safeguards inside ECEC were good but not watertight. The Education Ministers’ Meeting therefore endorsed a two-stage regulatory overhaul to hard-wire child-safe culture into every service.
To support these changes, ACECQA has released two new guides:
- The NQF Child Safe Culture Guide—for embedding child-safe attitudes and practices.
- The NQF Online Safety Guide—for navigating digital risks and promoting safe online engagement.
You can explore the full details and access the guides on ACECQA’s official child safety page.