The Department of Education has initiated compliance actions against 30 early childhood education and care services under new powers.
This is the first time these powers have been used since the Albanese Government passed legislation to strengthen regulation of the early childhood education and care sector last month.
This action relates to failing to meet National Quality Standards (NQS), not criminal allegations, which are handled separately by state regulators and law enforcement authorities. Examples of reasons for services not meeting these quality and safety standards include failures to provide for play area safety, hygiene, staff training or supervision.
The 30 early childhood education and care services were identified by the Department of Education in close cooperation with states and territories as failing to meet the NQS relating to child health and safety over seven or more years.
As a result of the reforms that passed the Parliament two weeks ago, the Commonwealth Government now has the power to cut off funding to child care centres that don't meet the NQS when it comes to safety and quality, where there's a breach of the law, or where centres are acting in a way that puts the safety of children at risk.
Services that fail to meet NQS standards may have further conditions placed on their Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approval, or risk having their CCS approval suspended or cancelled.
These new powers are being used in close collaboration with states and territories, who are responsible for regulating quality and safety in early education services and approving and shutting down services.
The relevant services have 48 hours to notify parents of these compliance actions and have up to six months to improve their performance against the NQS standards.
The Department of Education is currently working with affected early childhood education and care services and will release further information after services have notified parents.
This is the first phase of compliance activity with additional actions to come which will be published on the Department of Education webpage.
Education Ministers will meet next Friday to discuss further measures to strengthen safety in child care, including accelerating work on a national register of workers, the role of CCTV and mandatory child safety training.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
"We have taken action swiftly under the new legislation to begin rebuilding confidence in a system that parents need to have confidence in.
"This is not about closing centres down, it's about lifting standards up.
"Over the next six months, these centres will need to lift their game or they will face further consequences including the cutting off of funding.
"This action puts those centres on notice that they need to put the safety of our children first."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh:
"All early childhood education and care providers must be committed to safety and quality.
"The vast majority of providers and educators are decent, dedicated professionals who care deeply about safety and the quality of early childhood education and care they provide.
"We want to see regulators working with these centres to get them up to standard so they can continue to provide important services for their communities.
"There is nothing more precious than our children and we make no apologies for putting their safety and wellbeing first and foremost.
"Today's action should signal to all early childhood education and care providers that the National Quality Standards are not optional, and that all services must be up to scratch."
