More early learning services are meeting Australia's national quality and safety standards than ever.
The latest National Quality Framework (NQF) Snapshot for Q1 2026 shows 92 per cent of services are now rated as Meeting the National Quality Standard or above.
In the first three months of the year, state and territory regulators conducted more inspections than ever before - 6,147 service visits, up 9.5 per cent on the previous quarter and 7.15 per cent on the prior year.
They also took 933 compliance actions, an increase of 38.5 per cent compared with the same time last year.
Commonwealth compliance officers also conducted more unannounced inspections than ever before with more than 900 in the last 7 months.
There's more work to do but these results are encouraging.
The Australian Government, in coordinated action with states and territories, is implementing a number of safety reforms in early childhood education and care.
This includes mandatory child safety training for early educators.
Workers have six months to do the foundations of child safety course and more than 90 per cent of the workforce has already done it three months after it became available.
Our early educators are the most important asset we have and this shows how seriously they are taking the issue.
The next tranche of safety training for every early education workers rolls out in August.
The Australian Government's stronger enforcement powers are also working in lifting standards.
Since the Albanese Government passed legislation last year, 99 services have been issued conditions notices under the new powers.
44 of them are now meeting national quality standards having persistently failed to meet them prior to our action.
6 have shut, while others that have failed to meet the standard at their deadlines have been issued with a notice of intent to suspend or cancel their funding.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
"There is nothing more important than the safety of our kids.
"I have been very blunt - not enough had been done by governments - state or federal, Labor or Liberal.
"But a lot has happened in the last 12 months and we're seeing quality and safety across the sector improving.
"The percentage of child care centres meeting the national quality and safety standards is now at the highest level ever.
"The number of inspections by state regulators over the last 12 months is also the highest on record.
"That's a good sign. It's an indication that things are changing for the better.
"But we're not done yet.
"The truth is this work will never end.
"We have to keep the pressure on to make sure that the safety and quality in early education is what parents expect and what our children deserve."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh:
"Australian children should have access to quality and safe early learning.
"In the past year, we've taken decisive action to strengthen child safety in early learning.
"And we can now see that those changes are making a difference.
"These results show that governments, regulators, providers and educators are working together to lift standards across the sector."
