The federal government, in coordination with state and territory ministers, has announced a comprehensive $189 million package of national childcare safety reforms, including the creation of a national staff register and a nationwide ban on mobile phones in centres.
Education Minister Jason Clare unveiled the new measures on Friday following a meeting with his counterparts, stating the overhaul was a necessary response to recent disturbing allegations of child abuse in the sector.
Central to the reforms are new measures aimed at monitoring and training childcare staff.
A national register will be established to track workers across the sector, with work on the system to begin immediately.
Mr. Clare stated the register will be piloted in December 2025 and fully implemented from February 2026, requiring changes to national law. Additionally, mandatory national child safety training for all childcare workers will be rolled out from 2026.
New Centre-Based Rules and Enhanced Oversight
The safety package also introduces new rules for childcare facilities. A nationwide ban on mobile phones will take effect from September 2025, followed by a trial of CCTV cameras in 300 centres beginning in October.
Oversight will be significantly increased, with the Federal Department of Education set to conduct an additional 1,600 surprise spot checks on centres.
While the primary goal of these inspections is to combat fraud, Mr. Clare noted they will also play a critical role in identifying safety issues.
Parents will also receive more detailed information about the conditions of their children’s centres as part of the reforms.
Speaking after the announcement, Minister Clare stressed that the reforms were a shared responsibility.
“We have all got to step up here if we are serious about keeping our kids safe,” he said, acknowledging that while the package was not a complete solution, it was a critical “next step.”
He called on federal and state governments, regulators, and childcare providers to work together to implement the new safety standards.