Feb 27, 2026
Child Safety Progress Report Published
The Federal Government visited Goodstart Early Learning Narwee today to announce a major new package of child safety reforms for the early childhood education and care sector, including a National Worker Register and mandatory child safety training for educators nationwide.
Minister for Education Jason Clare and Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh joined our educators and children at the south-west Sydney centre to mark the rollout of the reforms, which officially came into effect today. The measures form part of the Albanese Government’s $226 million package to strengthen child safety and improve standards across the sector.
During the visit, ministers met with educators and centre leadership to discuss how the changes will better support the workforce to identify, prevent and report harm, while also improving information sharing between regulators across the country.
Mr Clare said the new National Worker Register would help track educators moving between centres and states, while the mandatory safety training would give staff the skills to identify and respond to concerning behaviour. Senator Walsh said the reforms marked “a significant step forward” for the sector.
Under the new rules, providers will now be required to upload workforce information - including Working with Children Checks, qualifications and identifying details - to the National Early Childhood Worker Register over the next four weeks, with records to be updated within 14 days of staffing changes. Mandatory child safety training has also been made available for educators, company directors and centre leaders from today.
The announcement also highlighted broader compliance reforms already underway, with services repeatedly failing to meet child health and safety standards now facing stricter conditions and potential enforcement action.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/safety-early-education-and-care-update
Minister for Education Jason Clare and Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh joined our educators and children at the south-west Sydney centre to mark the rollout of the reforms, which officially came into effect today. The measures form part of the Albanese Government’s $226 million package to strengthen child safety and improve standards across the sector.
During the visit, ministers met with educators and centre leadership to discuss how the changes will better support the workforce to identify, prevent and report harm, while also improving information sharing between regulators across the country.
Mr Clare said the new National Worker Register would help track educators moving between centres and states, while the mandatory safety training would give staff the skills to identify and respond to concerning behaviour. Senator Walsh said the reforms marked “a significant step forward” for the sector.
Under the new rules, providers will now be required to upload workforce information - including Working with Children Checks, qualifications and identifying details - to the National Early Childhood Worker Register over the next four weeks, with records to be updated within 14 days of staffing changes. Mandatory child safety training has also been made available for educators, company directors and centre leaders from today.
The announcement also highlighted broader compliance reforms already underway, with services repeatedly failing to meet child health and safety standards now facing stricter conditions and potential enforcement action.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/safety-early-education-and-care-update
