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.

The New South Wales Government has unveiled a comprehensive legislative proposal aimed at overhauling the state’s childcare system. The reforms, announced in response to growing concerns over safety and regulatory oversight, are designed to strengthen protections for children and enhance accountability across early childhood education services.

A sweeping audit has revealed that a staggering number of organizations in New South Wales are failing to comply with mandatory Working with Children Checks, prompting a government crackdown and legislative reform.

A proposed redevelopment in Avalon Beach has sparked widespread community outrage, with over 222 formal objections lodged against plans to build an early childhood service directly above a Dan Murphy’s liquor store.

A deeply distressing incident at First Steps Learning Academy in Bangor, Sydney has triggered a formal investigation and widespread concern across the early childhood sector. On Monday afternoon, a toddler was mistakenly handed over to the wrong grandparent and taken home for several hours before being safely returned.