National agreement on tougher child safety rules for early education providers
Mandatory reporting of abuse allegations within 24 hours, a vaping ban, and stricter policies around filming children will form part of a crackdown on unscrupulous early childcare providers.
Early Education
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Mandatory reporting of abuse allegations within 24 hours, a vaping ban, and stricter policies around filming children will form part of a crackdown on “unscrupulous” early childcare providers.
Stronger, mandatory child safety measures have been signed off by every Australian Education Minister to strengthen child safety in early childhood education and care services.
From September 1, there will be mandatory 24 hour reporting of any allegations, complaints or incidents of physical or sexual abuse – down from the current seven day window.
Vapes will be banned in all early education and care services, and there will be stronger protections around digital technology use, with services required to have clear policies on taking photos and videos of children, parent consent, CCTV practice and using service-issued devices.
From next year child safety will also be explicitly embedded into the National Quality Standard – which sets the benchmark for early childhood education and care.
It forms part of the response to the 2023 Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework,
In July last year, a new national code was released that recommended only service-issued devices could be used when photographing and filming children.
The federal government has also flagged further reforms to crack down on unscrupulous early childhood education and care providers.
That included measures to prevent providers who repeatedly breached laws or failed to meet minimum standards from opening Child Care Subsidy approved services; and to take action against existing providers with “egregious and continued breaches”, including the option to cut off access to Child Care Subsidy funding.
Northern Territory Education Minister Jo Hersey said the NT government welcomed the child safety review, “particularly its focus on strengthening supervision and improving the physical environment to keep children safe”.
“As part of our commitment to addressing the root causes of crime, we recognise that safeguarding children is fundamental to long-term community safety,” she said.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said “the safety and protection of children in early childhood education is our highest priority”.
“Australia has a very good system of early childhood education and care, but more can be done to make sure safety guidance and measures are fit-for-purpose,” he said.
“That’s why Education Ministers are acting on this key recommendation to make sure the right rules are in place to keep our children safe while they are in early education and care.”
Education Ministers will meet next week to consider additional actions to strengthen child safety in education and care services.
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