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June 17th, 2025

WHOLE OF SYSTEM REFORM REQUIRED TO ENSURE SAFETY IN CHILDCARE.

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WHOLE OF SYSTEM REFORM REQUIRED TO ENSURE SAFETY IN CHILDCARE

17 June 2025 – New mandatory child safety measures announced today by Education Ministers are a welcome step forward [1], but comprehensive reforms, including a national commission and an overhaul of the funding system, are needed to address the underlying systemic issues impacting Australia’s early learning and care sector.

The new measures include mandatory 24-hour reporting of abuse allegations and stronger digital technology protections.

“While these reforms demonstrate that governments at all levels are taking child safety seriously and will help maintain confidence in our early learning system, they are treating the symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of quality and safety failures,” said Griffin Longley from Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign.

“The fundamental issue remains that our current Child Care Subsidy funding model has created a profit-driven environment where unscrupulous operators can prioritise financial returns over children’s wellbeing.

“Like our public health and education systems, early childhood education should be treated as an essential public service, not a commercial opportunity.

“We also need a national early childhood development commission to ensure this momentum toward national consistency continues and that standards are enforced uniformly across all states and territories.

“We welcome that this is a nationally coordinated approach agreed to by all Education Ministers, bringing us closer to nationally consistent safety and quality enforcement across all jurisdictions.

“But, until we address these underlying structural issues, we will likely continue to see safety and quality problems emerge across the sector,” Mr Longley said.

[1] Minister for Education – Tougher child safety rules to help keep children safer in early education