To ensure children are safe, supported and thriving, the Queensland Department of Education is strengthening current approaches and introducing a range of new initiatives and programs. These are designed to empower the sector and educators to further enhance safety and uphold the highest standards of quality care and include legislative amendments.
In addition, Queensland is also working closely with other states and territories, as well as the early childhood sector and experts, to expand safety measures and boost the quality of education and care services across the sector.
Strengthening child safety in early childhood education and care
National Child Safety Reforms are now underway and services must prepare for significant changes.
The Early Childhood Legislation Amendment (Child Safety) Act 2025 External link has now been passed by Victorian Parliament on behalf of all states and territories.
In 2025, Ministers agreed that dedicated, committed early childhood educators are our greatest asset in caring for, educating and keeping our children safe. Ministers agreed to a range of legislative reforms and regulatory changes. Read the Decision Regulation Impact Statement External link and outcomes from public consultation.
Day One ELC, as part of the Monique Chelin Pty Ltd group of companies has already reviewed the child safety reform resources for services and updated our policies and practices where necessary to ensure we are on track with any new requirements. We can confirm that the additional Child Safety mandatory training to be rolled out in early 2026 will be undertaken at our cost by all of our educators with no disruption to our normal services for children and parents.
We are very grateful to our parent and visitor community for getting on board with our No Mobiles in Centres practices to protect our children and their images.
We will keep you updated as these requirements develop.
Key dates
- 1 September 2025—regulatory amendments begin
- 10 December 2025—National Quality Framework (NQF) legislative amendments commence: changes to statute of limitations; enhancing Regulatory Authorities’ ability to share information with current approved providers, information sharing provisions with recruitment agencies, and penalties for providing false or misleading information to an approved provider or recruitment agency about a prohibition notice
- 1 January 2026
- changes to the National Quality Standard commence
- Child Safe Standards apply to Queensland services
- removal of rest period conditions
- 2 January 2026—NQF legislative amendments commence: penalty infringement notices and increased penalty amounts
- 27 February 2026—all other NQF legislative amendments commence
- 1 July 2026—Reportable Conduct Scheme begins for Queensland services
Monique Chelin
