Australian childcare and early learning centres face stricter rules under new safety crackdown

Complaints of physical or sexual assaults on children in early education centres must be reported within 24 hours under new safety measures.

Stronger child safety rules will come into effect from September after education ministers in federal, state and territory governments gave the measures the tick of approval.

They include additional, mandatory reporting rules, while incidents of or complaints about abuse in childcare centres will need to be reported within one day, down from a week.

The changes follow allegations of child abuse being ignored by regulators and service providers prioritising profit over children’s care that were aired in March following an ABC Four Corners investigation.

Vapes will be banned in all early education and care services, and stronger regulations for digital technology will be implemented under the changes, announced on Monday.

Centres will be required to have clear policies on taking photos and videos of children, CCTV practice and the use of service-issued devices.

In July, a new national code and guidelines were released recommending that only service-issued devices be used when photographing and filming children.

A major review of the child safety arrangements under the National Quality Framework made 16 recommendations relating to improving physical and online safety, supervision and staffing requirements in centres.

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority will issue new guidance and resource materials to support the sector while introducing the changes.

Education Minister Jason Clare said the safety and protection of children in early childhood education was the 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.”

Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh said the federal government was committed to ensuring children had a positive and safe experience and got the best possible start in life.

In one shocking case, federal and state police teamed up to catch a former childcare worker who abused almost 70 children in Queensland and Italy between 2003 and 2022.

The Gold Coast man was later sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty.