Two separate fires have rocked Play and Learn childcare centres across Sydney in less than a week, prompting serious concerns for community safety and early education environments.

A suspicious fire erupted at a childcare centre on Sydney’s North Shore early Friday morning, raising urgent concerns about security within early learning environments.

As CCTV becomes a more common feature in Australian early learning centres, especially in response to safeguarding concerns, a critical question emerges: Are these systems truly protecting children—or exposing them to new risks?

As education ministers across Australia weigh a proposal to mandate CCTV monitoring in childcare centres where child safety concerns have been previously raised, the early learning community finds itself at a pivotal crossroads.

 In a landmark move towards safeguarding vulnerable children, the Queensland Government has unveiled mandatory annual safety training for all childcare workers—a first-of-its-kind initiative in Australia.

In response to deeply troubling allegations against a former educator, Affinity Education has announced sweeping safeguarding reforms across its 250+ centres. These include fast-tracked CCTV installation, parental choice for nappy/toileting care, centre layout reviews to remove blind spots, and mandatory lockboxes for staff phones during work hours.

On 8 July 2025, the Little Shining Stars Early Learning Centre in Klemzig, Adelaide, became the epicenter of a national outcry following revelations that staff had photographed children’s injuries and nappy rash using centre-owned devices. These images were stored in ways deemed “highly inappropriate” by South Australia's Education Standards Board (ESB), prompting a swift emergency investigation.

Thousands of educators entered the field armed with certificates but short on competence. Driven by profit motives and migration incentives, several education providers offered one-year diplomas with minimal oversight and limited practical learning. This is not just a compliance issue—it’s a moral imperative. The following article provides strategies on how the sector can rebuild quality and credibility.

In a sweeping move to restore integrity to Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has revoked an estimated 10,700 that were linked to early childhood education and care in late 2024. Providers like Luvium Pty Ltd and Gills College were found to have issued credentials without proper training or assessment.

A recent survey conducted by the United Workers Union (UWU) has revealed a troubling reality in Australia’s early childhood education sector: 77% of childcare workers report that their centres operate below minimum staffing levels at least once a week, with 42% saying this occurs daily.