Strengthening Governance: Standard 7.1 Now Embeds Child Safety

Written by Lorina
January 6, 2026
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The National Quality Standard (NQS) has been updated to further reinforce the responsibility of early childhood education and care services in safeguarding children. Under Quality Area 7: Governance and Leadership, Standard 7.1—Governance now explicitly highlights that governance must support the operation of a quality service that is child safe.

What’s Changed?

Previously, Standard 7.1 focused on governance systems that ensured effective management and compliance. The change now makes child safety a central pillar of governance, requiring approved providers, leaders, and management to embed child protection principles into the very structure and operation of their service.

This shift recognises that governance is not only about compliance and efficiency—it is about creating a culture of safety, accountability, and trust.

Legislative and Policy Foundations

The strengthened Standard 7.1 aligns with:

National Law and Regulations that require services to prioritise the safety, health, and wellbeing of children.
National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, which set expectations for leadership, governance, and culture in child-focused organisations.
State and territory child protection legislation, which imposes mandatory reporting and accountability obligations.

By embedding child safety into governance, services demonstrate that protecting children is not just a practice—it is a core organisational responsibility.

What This Standard Aims to Achieve

The updated Standard 7.1 ensures that:

Governance systems actively promote child safety alongside quality service delivery.
Policies and procedures reflect child protection obligations and are regularly reviewed.
Leaders and managers model child-safe practices, setting expectations for all staff.
Families and communities can trust that services operate with transparency and accountability.
Risk management frameworks include child safety considerations, including online environments.

How Services Will Be Assessed

Assessors may look for evidence that:

Governance documents (policies, procedures, strategic plans) explicitly reference child safety.
Induction and professional development include child protection responsibilities.
Leaders demonstrate how child safety is embedded in decision-making and daily operations.
Services collaborate with external agencies to strengthen child protection responses.
Families are informed about governance practices that support child safety.

Practical Steps for Services

To meet the updated Standard 7.1, services should:

Review governance frameworks to ensure child safety is explicitly embedded.
Update policies and procedures to align with Child Safe Standards.
Provide training for leaders and managers on governance and child protection.
Establish clear reporting and accountability mechanisms for child safety concerns.
Engage families and communities in conversations about governance and child safety.

Building Trust Through Governance

This change to Standard 7.1 reflects a national commitment to ensuring that governance is not only about compliance but about safeguarding children at every level of service operation. By embedding child safety into governance, services strengthen their culture of care, build trust with families, and uphold their duty of care to every child.