Australia’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector will enter the next stage of national child safety reform when advanced child safety training will become available from July 2026, expanding on the mandatory foundation modules introduced earlier this year.
The new training forms part of the nationally consistent child safety framework agreed by Education Ministers in 2025 and is designed to strengthen safeguarding capability across leadership and frontline roles within early childhood services.
Under the national requirements, advanced training will be mandatory for:
- persons with management or control of a service
- nominated supervisors
- persons in day-to-day charge
- staff members who work directly with children.
The additional training recognises the heightened responsibilities these roles hold in creating and maintaining child-safe environments and responding appropriately to child safety concerns.
The Australian Government has established staged implementation timeframes to allow services to plan staff participation.
Existing staff required to complete the advanced training will have six months from its release date to complete the modules.
Staff employed after the training becomes available will be required to complete the advanced training within three months of commencing employment.
The advanced training represents the next milestone in the national child safety reforms being implemented across Australia’s ECEC sector.
The Department of Education has advised they will provide information ahead of its release.
Learn more about national child safety training here.
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