What is the Australian government doing to improve childcare safety?

The Australian government is rolling out a $189 million package to improve childcare safety, including a CCTV trial at 300 centers, a new national register to track childcare workers, and mandatory safety training for the entire workforce.

How will the CCTV trial in Australian childcare centers work?

The CCTV trial will see 300 childcare facilities across Australia install cameras, with some centers required to do so and others volunteering to participate. The trial will be overseen by the Australian Centre for Child Protection.

What is the purpose of the new national register for childcare workers in Australia?

The new national register will allow regulators to track who is working in childcare centers and where. It is being built from scratch and will require legislation to mandate that centers share information about their employees.

Home / Education / Childcare Sector Braces for Sweeping Safety Reforms Across Australia

Childcare Sector Braces for Sweeping Safety Reforms Across Australia

21 Aug

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Summary

300 childcare centers to trial CCTV cameras
$189 million in funding for child safety initiatives
New national register to track childcare workers

As of August 2025, the Australian government is taking sweeping action to address a safety crisis in the childcare sector. Education ministers from across the country are meeting in Sydney to discuss a range of reforms, including the rollout of CCTV cameras and mobile phone bans in childcare centers.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has announced that 300 childcare facilities will participate in a CCTV trial, overseen by the Australian Centre for Child Protection. Some centers will be required to install the cameras, while others will volunteer to be part of the initiative. The government is also investing $189 million over four years to fund the biggest child safety package the early learning sector has ever seen.

Alongside the CCTV trial, the government is building a new national register that will allow regulators to track who is working in childcare centers and where. This register, which will require legislation to mandate, is expected to be trialed by December 2025 and rolled out from February 2026.

The reform package also includes mandatory safety training for the entire childcare workforce, more frequent center spot checks, and harsher penalties for breaches of safety standards. The government is also considering ways to provide parents with more information about the condition of childcare facilities.

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