The Australian Government has provided a formal response to the inquiry and report conducted by the Senate Education and Employment References Committee into the quality and safety of Australia’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) system.The report, which was submitted on 31 March 2026, included twenty three recommendations designed to achieve a wide range of objectives all designed to improve quality and safety across the ECEC sector in Australia. As part of the response the Government detailed the range of comprehensive reforms enacted since the Education Minister meeting held in August 2025 including the establishment of the National Early Childhood Worker Register, enhanced Child Safety Training requirements, a CCTV review and reforms to Law and regulations, in particular banning phones and devices in services. That being said, the final count of Senate Child Safety Review recommendations supported by Labor was one out of the 23 originally made with 14 noted and 3 partially supported and 5 supported in principle. Recommendation register 1. Integrate law enforcement into child safety reforms: link Working with Children Checks, educator registers and police/regulator intelligence; consider safeguarded facial recognition for police identification of child sexual assault victims, two-way police–regulator feedback on sub-threshold matters, and guidance on preserving CCTV and other evidence without unnecessary surveillance. Government response: The Australian Government partially supports this recommendation, noting that work is underway in collaboration with states and territories in areas where responsibility is shared. 2. Refer serious child sexual abuse sentencing frameworks to the Australian Law Reform Commission to examine deterrence, protection from ongoing risks, repeat-offender provisions and appropriate reforms. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. 3. Develop nationally consistent timeframes for regulators to respond to concerning – behaviour allegations and breaches of the National Law and regulations. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Australian Government shares responsibility with states and territories or where states and territories have sole responsibility. 4. Consider giving prospective employers access to the National Early Childhood Worker Register for pre-employment checks, including relevant regulatory and substantiated breach histories, with privacy and procedural safeguards. Government response: The Australian Government supports in principle this recommendation, and notes that work is already underway in collaboration with states and territories in this area 5. Amend the Fair Work Act 2009 to reflect safeguarding needs in child-facing workplaces and protect employers taking good-faith, reasonably grounded employment action over potential risks to children. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. 6. Review national child safety training delivery and assessment to ensure genuine safeguarding engagement, demonstrated understanding, robust evaluation and ongoing monitoring through regular audits. Government response: The Australian Government supports in principle this recommendation, and notes collaboration between states and territories to roll out the National Child Safety Training. 7. Have ACECQA, with relevant peak bodies, develop and implement guidelines for anaphylaxis prevention and management, and for the safety and care of children with type 1 diabetes. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Government shares responsibility with states and territories or matters where states and territories have sole responsibility 8. Have ACECQA’s rapid review recommend regulatory changes requiring active supervision and addressing operational and regulatory pressures reducing educator-to-child ratios during sleep and rest periods. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. 9. Increase authorised-officer spot checks, ensure appropriate officer training including early childhood practice, and set minimum targets such as four unannounced checks per year. Government response: The Australian Government partially supports this recommendation, and notes that the Australian Government has committed to 1,600 unannounced service visits by Australian Government Authorised Officers each year. 10. Publicly announce as soon as possible whether the Worker Retention Payment will continue or cease, to give the sector certainty. Government response: The Australian Government supports this recommendation. An investment of $3.6 billion was announced on 17 June 2026 to extend the Worker Retention Payment. 11. Consider tax concessions for early childhood education and care workers in Public Benevolent Institutions who cannot currently access salary packaging concessions, to improve retention and reduce turnover. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. 12. Work with vocational education and training and higher education regulators to ensure high-quality educators and early learning teachers enter the profession. Government response: The Australian Government supports in principle this recommendation. 13. Urgently commission an independent National Quality Framework review focused on making assessments against the National Quality Standard more accurate, transparent and consistent. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Australian Government shares responsibility with states and territories or matters where states and territories have sole responsibility. 14. Urgently publish professional development subsidy guidelines and an opening date before mandatory training obligations begin; clarify funding, allocation and earlier costs; avoid disadvantaging providers paying upfront and consider retrospective claims; review coverage of compliance costs and administrative burdens, particularly for not-for-profits. Government response: The Australian Government supports in principle this recommendation. 15. Require regulatory authorities to provide clear, timely and actionable feedback after assessment and rating, supporting continuous improvement and transparency. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Australian Government shares responsibility with states and territories or matters where states and territories have sole responsibility. 16. Prohibit providers from expanding or opening additional services unless existing services consistently meet the National Quality Standard, using clear thresholds for demonstrated, sustained quality and safety compliance. Government response: The Australian Government supports in principle this recommendation. 17. Urgently review support for children with additional needs, including the Inclusion Support Program and Thriving Kids’ impacts, to provide funding certainty for families and providers. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Australian Government shares responsibility with states and territories or matters where states and territories have sole responsibility. 18. Ensure the Community Child Care Fund meets existing demand in childcare deserts and consider models better suited to thin markets. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Australian Government shares responsibility with states and territories or matters where states and territories have sole responsibility. 19. Discuss inflated rental and licence fees for early childhood education and care services, including public primary school charges, at a future Education Ministers Meeting and consider remedies. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Australian Government shares responsibility with states and territories or matters where states and territories have sole responsibility. 20. Include parent consultation as a general principle in future policy development, considering family flexibility and choice alongside early childhood development outcomes. Government response: The Australian Government supports in principle this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Australian Government shares responsibility with states and territories or matters where states and territories have sole responsibility. 21. Improve the accessibility and clarity of Child Care Subsidy information, including a user-friendly calculator on Services Australia’s website to explain eligibility and entitlements. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Australian Government shares responsibility with states and territories or matters where states and territories have sole responsibility. 22. Review Outside School Hours Care educator-to-child ratios against school-aged children’s developmental and supervision needs, including age- or activity-based staffing across settings and transitions, while maintaining safety and service viability, particularly in regional, remote and smaller school communities. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Australian Government shares responsibility with states and territories or matters where states and territories have sole responsibility. 23. Comprehensively review the National Quality Framework’s suitability for Outside School Hours Care, towards a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework reflecting the distinct nature of school-aged care. Government response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation. The recommendation relates to matters where the Australian Government shares responsibility with states and territories or matters where states and territories have sole responsibility. To read the Government’s response click here.
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