Welcome to 2026: What's Changing in Early Childhood Care

As we step into 2026, the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector across Australia is experiencing its most significant transformation in over a decade. Following comprehensive reviews and national consultations, new regulatory changes under the National Quality Framework (NQF) are rolling out to strengthen child safety, enhance quality standards, and provide greater transparency for families.

At Trio Lane Early Learning Centre in Deception Bay, we’re committed to not just meeting these new requirements—but exceeding them. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything Queensland families need to know about what’s changing in early childhood care in 2026, how these changes protect children, and what they mean for your family’s childcare experience.

Understanding the National Quality Framework (NQF)

Before diving into what’s changing, let’s understand what the National Quality Framework actually is.

What is the NQF?

The NQF is Australia’s system for regulating early childhood education and care. Introduced in 2012, it provides:

A National Approach: Consistent standards across all states and territories

Quality Assurance: A framework for assessing and improving ECEC services

Transparency for Families: Clear information about service quality

Child Protection: Regulations ensuring children’s safety and well-being

Components of the NQF

1. The National Law
The Education and Care Services National Law sets the legal requirements for ECEC services across Australia.

2. The National Regulations
The Education and Care Services National Regulations provide detailed operational requirements.

3. The National Quality Standard (NQS)
The NQS sets benchmarks across seven Quality Areas:

Quality Area 1: Educational Program and Practice
Quality Area 2: Children’s Health and Safety
Quality Area 3: Physical Environment
Quality Area 4: Staffing Arrangements
Quality Area 5: Relationships with Children
Quality Area 6: Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities
Quality Area 7: Governance and Leadership

4. Approved Learning Frameworks

Belonging, Being & Becoming (EYLF) for children birth to 5
My Time, Our Place for school-aged children

5. ACECQA
The Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority oversees national consistency and supports regulatory authorities.

Why This Matters for Families

The NQF ensures that every ECEC service in Australia, from Deception Bay to Darwin, meets the same high standards. When you choose a service, you can check its NQS rating and understand exactly what quality looks like.

Why the Changes? The Context Behind 2026 Reforms

The Child Safety Review

In December 2023, ACECQA published a comprehensive Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the NQF. This review:

Examined how child safety systems could be strengthened
Involved extensive national consultation
Reviewed recent incidents across Australia
Identified gaps in current protections

Key Finding: “Australia has a very good system of ECEC. However, more can be done to ensure the NQF remains contemporary and fit-for-purpose in the context of child safety.”

What Education Ministers Agreed

Following the review, Education Ministers across all states and territories agreed to:

✓ Enhance provider accountability
✓ Improve information sharing between regulatory bodies
✓ Expand regulatory powers to monitor and enforce compliance
✓ Grow service sector capability through mandatory training
✓ Embed the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations into the NQF

A Staged Rollout

Changes are being introduced in stages to allow services and families to prepare:

1 September 2025: Initial regulatory changes (already in effect)
1 January 2026: NQS refinements to Quality Areas 2 & 7
Early 2026: Further National Law and Regulation changes
February 2026: National Early Childhood Worker Register goes live
27 February 2026: Mandatory child safety training begins

What Changed in September 2025 (Already in Effect)

Before looking at 2026 changes, here’s what’s already been implemented:

1. Digital Technology Policies (Regulation 168)

What Changed: All services must have policies and procedures for the safe use of digital technologies and online environments.

What This Covers:

Taking photos and videos of children
Use of service-supplied devices
Restrictions on personal devices
Safe digital practices
Online safety protocols

At Trio Lane: We’ve implemented comprehensive digital safety policies that exceed minimum requirements, ensuring every image and video is captured safely and with purpose.

2. 24-Hour Reporting for Abuse Allegations (Regulation 176)

What Changed: Notification timeframe reduced from 7 days to 24 hours.

What Must Be Reported Within 24 Hours:

Any allegation of physical abuse
Any allegation of sexual abuse
Any incident involving physical or sexual abuse
While the child was being educated or cared for by the service

Why It Matters: Faster reporting enables quicker intervention and support for children.

At Trio Lane, we have clear protocols ensuring immediate reporting to both the regulatory authority and families when required.

3. Vaping Ban (Regulation 82)

What Changed: Service environments must be free from vaping substances and vaping devices.

Expansion of Existing Bans: Services were already tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug-free. This now includes vaping.

Who It Applies To: All adults and young people on service premises.

At Trio Lane: Our entirely smoke-free and vape-free environment has been policy for years, and we maintain clear signage and communication with all families and visitors.

The Big Changes for January 2026

Quality Area 2 and Quality Area 7 Refinements

From 1 January 2026, the National Quality Standard has been refined to explicitly embed child safety within two critical Quality Areas.

Quality Area 2: Children’s Health and Safety

Previous Element 2.2.3: Child Protection
“Management, educators and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities to identify and respond to every child at risk of abuse or neglect.”

NEW Element 2.2.3: Child Safety and Protection
“Management, educators and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities regarding child safety, including the need to identify and respond to every child at risk of abuse or neglect.”

What’s Different:

Explicit reference to “child safety” (not just protection)
Broader scope of responsibilities
Emphasis on proactive safety measures
Clear accountability for all staff

What This Means in Practice:

Enhanced training for all educators and staff
Clearer protocols for identifying risks
Stronger emphasis on prevention
Regular review of safety practices

At Trio Lane, all our educators understand their critical role in maintaining a child-safe environment. We conduct regular training, use the NQF Child Safe Culture Guide, and have clear escalation protocols.

Quality Area 7: Governance and Leadership

Previous Standard 7.1: Governance
“Governance supports the operation of a quality service.”

NEW Standard 7.1: Governance
“Governance supports the operation of a quality service that is child safe.”

Previous Element 7.1.2: Management Systems
“Systems are in place to manage risk and enable the effective management and operation of a quality service.”

NEW Element 7.1.2: Management Systems
“Systems are in place to manage risk and enable the effective management and operation of a quality service that is child safe.”

What’s Different:

Child safety is explicitly embedded in governance
Leadership accountability for a child-safe culture
Risk management must specifically address child safety
Operational systems must prioritise child safety

What This Means in Practice:

Board/management training on child safety
Child safety is included in all policy reviews
Risk assessments with a child safety lens
Leadership modeling child-safe culture

At Trio Lane: Our governance structure has always prioritised child safety, and these refinements align perfectly with our existing values and practices. Our leadership team undergoes regular child safety training, and our policies are reviewed annually against the highest standards.

Why These Refinements Matter

These changes might seem subtle—just a few added words—but they represent a fundamental shift:

Before: Child safety was implicit and assumed
After: Child safety is explicit, named, and required

This means:

Services must demonstrate specific child safety practices during assessment and rating
Regulators have clearer criteria to evaluate child safety
Families can better understand what child safety looks like
The entire sector is aligned around child safety as paramount

Major Changes Coming in Early 2026

1. The Paramountcy Principle

What It Is: The safety, rights, and best interests of children will become the paramount consideration in the operation of an education and care service.

What This Means: When any decision is made—whether about policies, staffing, environments, or programs—children’s safety and best interests must come first, above all other considerations.

Practical Impact:

Decision-making frameworks must prioritise children.
Risk assessments must centre on child safety
Any competing interests take second place to child wellbeing

At Trio Lane: This principle already guides everything we do, from how we design our spaces to how we hire our educators.

2. Digital Device Regulations

From early 2026, strict new rules around digital devices will take effect.

Service-Supplied Devices Only

The Rule: Only service-supplied or service-authorised devices can be used to capture, store, or transmit images of children.

What This Means:

No personal phones or cameras for taking photos of children
All images captured on centre-owned devices
Controlled storage and sharing
Clear audit trail

Applies To: Centre-based services and family day care

Personal Device Restrictions

The Rule: Personal devices are prohibited from being in staff possession or control while working directly with children in centre-based services.

Limited Exceptions:

During excursions
When transporting children
Emergencies
When specifically authorised by an approved provider (with record keeping)

What This Means for Educators:

Personal phones are stored in lockers or designated areas
Work phones/devices provided by the service
Clear boundaries between personal and work technology

At Trio Lane, we’ve already transitioned to service-supplied devices only. All educators use centre iPads for documentation, and personal phones are securely stored away from children during work hours.

3. Mandatory Child Safety Training

From 27 February 2026, all ECEC staff, volunteers, and students must complete mandatory national child safety training.

Who Must Complete Training

Everyone Involved in ECEC:

Educators and teachers
Nominated supervisors
Coordinators
Non-educator staff (cooks, administration, cleaners)
Volunteers
Students on placement
Family day care educators and educator assistants

Training Package:

Developed by the Australian Centre for Child Protection
Nationally consistent
Free for all ECEC staff
Available from early 2026

What It Covers:

Recognising signs of abuse and neglect
Understanding child development and vulnerability
Responding appropriately to disclosures
Escalation and reporting procedures
Creating child-safe cultures
Legal obligations and responsibilities

Government Support for Training

Wage Subsidies: Australian Government grants will help cover wage costs while staff complete training.

Eligibility: Small to medium providers (up to 25 services)

Available From: 1 July 2026

At Trio Lane, we’re already planning our training schedule to ensure all staff complete this mandatory training. We believe this will further strengthen our already robust child protection practices.

4. Working with Children Checks (WWCC)

The Requirement: All individuals must hold an approved/valid Working with Children Check before commencing work in education and care services.

Previous Practice: Some jurisdictions allowed people to commence work while a WWCC application was pending.

New Requirement: Must have approved WWCC in hand before starting.

Notification Obligations:

Staff must notify approved providers of any changes to WWCC status
Providers must notify regulatory authorities
Sharing of information about prohibited individuals

At Trio Lane: We’ve always required valid WWCCs before commencement. These changes simply formalise what has been our practice.

5. Inappropriate Conduct Offence

What’s New: “Inappropriate conduct” becomes a specific offence for all staff and volunteers.

What Constitutes Inappropriate Conduct:

Behaviour that poses a risk to child safety
Conduct that breaches professional boundaries
Actions inconsistent with a child-safe culture
Behaviour that doesn’t meet the threshold for prohibition but is still concerning

Expanded Regulatory Responses:

Regulatory authorities now have broader powers to address misconduct:

✓ Temporary Suspension: Direct an approved provider to temporarily suspend a staff member
✓ Supervised Practice: Requires supervision of a staff member
✓ Mandatory Training: Require completion of specific training
✓ Improvement Notices: Issue notices requiring specific actions

Purpose: To address problematic behaviour before it escalates, rather than waiting for severe misconduct that requires prohibition.

At Trio Lane, we maintain the highest professional standards and have clear codes of conduct. Our educators understand appropriate boundaries and child-safe practices.

6. National Early Childhood Worker Register

Launch: Testing phase begins December 2025, with national rollout from February 2026.

Purpose: Give regulatory authorities better visibility of who is working in the sector and where.

Who Must Be Registered:

All educators and teachers
Nominated supervisors and coordinators
Non-educator staff (administration, cooks, cleaners)
Volunteers and students
Family day care educators and assistants

What Information Is Captured:

Name and identifying details
Where they’re working
Role and position
Qualifications
WWCC status
Any regulatory actions or concerns

Who Maintains the Register: Approved providers must enter and maintain workforce information.

Benefits:

Better tracking of workforce movements
Identification of concerning patterns
Improved information sharing between jurisdictions
Support for monitoring and responding to risk

Privacy Protections: Registered information is protected and used only for regulatory purposes.

At Trio Lane, we’re preparing our systems to comply with the register requirements. All our staff information is already well-documented, so this transition will be smooth.

What These Changes Mean for Families

Greater Transparency

Starting Blocks Upgrades: The Australian Government’s Starting Blocks website has been upgraded to provide:

Information about compliance actions against services
Details of regulatory visits
Service ratings and assessment reports
Transparency about any concerns or issues

What This Means: You can make more informed choices about childcare based on comprehensive, transparent information.

Enhanced Child Safety

All these changes work together to create a multi-layered approach to child safety:

Prevention: Through training, device restrictions, and clear policies
Detection: Through mandatory reporting, information sharing, and the worker register
Response: Through expanded regulatory powers and faster reporting timeframes
Culture: Through the paramountcy principle and NQS refinements

Stronger Accountability

Provider Accountability: Services must demonstrate child safety practices during assessment and rating.

Individual Accountability: All staff are responsible for child safety, with clear consequences for inappropriate conduct.

Regulatory Accountability: Regulators have stronger powers and better information sharing.

Confidence in Quality

The NQS refinements mean you can be confident that:

Services are assessed against explicit child safety criteria
Leadership prioritises child safety in all decisions
Educators are trained and capable
Systems are in place to protect children

State-Specific Considerations for Queensland

While the NQF provides national consistency, there are some Queensland-specific aspects families should know.

Queensland Regulatory Authority

Who Regulates: Queensland Department of Education – Early Childhood Education and Care

Contact: earlychildhood.ecec@qed.qld.gov.au

Role:

Assessing and rating services
Monitoring compliance
Investigating complaints
Taking enforcement action when needed

Queensland Reportable Conduct Scheme

What It Is: Queensland is bringing forward the application of its reportable conduct scheme to the ECEC sector.

When: 1 July 2026

What This Means: An additional layer of oversight for allegations of employee misconduct involving children.

Queensland Kindergarten Funding

What It Is: Queensland Government funding for approved kindergarten programs.

Current: Children are entitled to access 600 hours per year of an approved kindergarten program in the year before school.

2026 Alignment: Kindergarten programs must meet both EYLF requirements and NQF child safety standards.

Queensland-Specific Resources

Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA): Approves kindergarten programs

Early Childhood Education Professional Association of Queensland (ECEPAQ): Professional support for educators

How Trio Lane Early Learning Centre is Preparing

At Trio Lane, we’re not just meeting the new 2026 requirements—we’re embracing them as opportunities to further strengthen our already excellent practices.

Our Child Safety Commitment

Child Safety is Paramount: Every decision we make puts children’s safety, rights, and best interests first.

Proactive Approach: We don’t wait for regulations—we lead with best practice.

Continuous Improvement: We regularly review and enhance our child safety practices.

What We’ve Already Implemented

✓ Digital Safety Policies: Comprehensive policies covering all aspects of digital technology use
✓ Service-Supplied Devices: All documentation on centre-owned iPads, no personal devices during work hours
✓ 24-Hour Reporting Protocols: Clear procedures ensuring immediate reporting when required
✓ Vape-Free Environment: Entirely smoke-free and vape-free service premises
✓ WWCC Verification: All staff have current, approved Working with Children Checks before commencing
✓ Child Safe Culture: Training, policies, and practices that embed child safety in everything we do

What We’re Preparing For

Quality Area 2 & 7 Alignment: Reviewing all policies and practices against refined standards

Mandatory Training: Scheduling all staff for national child safety training completion

Worker Register: Preparing our HRIS systems for register compliance

Enhanced Risk Assessments: Incorporating a new child safety focus across all risk management

Our Educators

Highly Qualified: All educators hold required qualifications and participate in ongoing professional development

Thoroughly Screened: Robust recruitment process including:

Reference checks
Working with Children Checks
Qualification verification
Police checks
Interview processes

Regularly Trained: Child protection, first aid, anaphylaxis, asthma, emergency management, and more

Supported: Access to professional development, mentoring, and well-being support

Our Governance

Leadership Commitment: Our leadership team is personally committed to child safety

Policy Review: Annual review of all policies against NQF, EYLF, and child safety standards

Risk Management: Comprehensive risk assessments covering child safety

Continuous Monitoring: Regular compliance checks and quality assurance processes

What Hasn’t Changed

While there are significant new requirements, many fundamental aspects of quality early childhood education remain unchanged:

The EYLF Still Guides Practice

Belonging, Being & Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework continues to underpin educational programs.

The Five Learning Outcomes:

Children have a strong sense of identity
Children are connected with and contribute to their world
Children have a strong sense of well-being
Children are confident and involved learners
Children are effective communicators

Play-Based Learning Remains Central

Quality ECEC is still built on:

Child-led exploration
Intentional teaching
Learning through play
Responsive relationships

Educator-to-Child Ratios

National minimum ratios remain:

Birth to 24 months: 1:4
24 months to 36 months: 1:5
36 months to school age: 1:11

(Queensland services often exceed these minimums)

NQS Seven Quality Areas

The seven Quality Areas remain the framework for assessment and rating:

Educational program and practice
Children’s health and safety (with refinements)
Physical environment
Staffing arrangements
Relationships with children
Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
Governance and leadership (with refinements)

Family Partnership

Quality ECEC still requires strong partnerships between services and families. The NQF emphasises:

Respectful relationships
Collaborative decision-making
Open communication
Cultural competence

Common Questions About the 2026 Changes

For Parents and Families

Q: Will these changes affect fees?
A: The regulatory changes themselves don’t directly impact fees. However, some services may invest in additional training, technology, or systems. At Trio Lane, we’re absorbing costs associated with compliance as part of our commitment to quality. The Australian Government is also providing grants to help offset training costs.

Q: Will educators have access to photos of my child?
A: Only on service-supplied devices with appropriate permissions and safeguards. Personal phones cannot be used to take photos of children. All images are captured, stored, and shared according to strict protocols.

Q: What if I need to reach my child’s educator during the day?
A: You can always contact the centre via our main phone line. Educators will return calls during breaks. The personal device restrictions don’t prevent necessary communication—they prevent personal phones from being present while educators are actively caring for children.

Q: How will I know if the changes are being followed?
A: Regulatory authorities will assess and monitor compliance through:

Assessment and rating visits
Unannounced compliance visits (doubling in frequency)
Investigation of complaints
Review of documentation

You can also check Starting Blocks for compliance information.

Q: What happens if a service doesn’t comply?
A: Regulatory authorities have expanded powers, including:

Improvement notices
Compliance directions
Suspension of operations
Revocation of approval
Prosecution for offences

Q: Are these changes just for Queensland?
A: No, these are national changes applying across all states and territories (with minor jurisdictional variations).

Q: Will my child’s learning be affected?
A: No. These changes enhance safety without reducing the quality of educational programs. Play-based learning, EYLF implementation, and quality pedagogy continue as before.

For Prospective Families

Q: How do I check if a service is compliant with new requirements?
A: Check Starting Blocks (www.startingblocks.gov.au) for:

Current NQS rating
Assessment and rating reports
Compliance history
Regulatory visits

You can also ask services directly about their child safety practices.

Q: What should I ask when touring services?
A: Great questions to ask:

How have you implemented the 2026 child safety changes?
What is your approach to digital device use?
How do you ensure all staff are trained in child safety?
Can you walk me through your child protection policies?
How do you maintain a child-safe culture?

Q: Is Trio Lane compliant with all 2026 changes?
A: Yes. We’ve proactively implemented all requirements and are fully prepared for 2026 compliance.

Looking Ahead: Future Developments

The 2026 changes are part of an ongoing commitment to strengthening child safety in ECEC. Here’s what may be coming:

Potential Future Reforms

CCTV Assessment: A national assessment is underway examining the use of closed-circuit television in ECEC settings, with a report due to Education Ministers in 2026.

Continued NQF Review: Regular reviews ensure the framework remains contemporary and effective.

Enhanced Information Sharing: Further improvements to information sharing between regulatory bodies, police, and other agencies.

Workforce Development: Ongoing investment in educator training, wages, and professional recognition.

Staying Informed

Official Sources:

ACECQA website: www.acecqa.gov.au
Australian Government Department of Education: www.education.gov.au/early-childhood
Queensland Department of Education: www.qed.qld.gov.au
Starting Blocks: www.startingblocks.gov.au

Trio Lane Communications:

Regular newsletters
Centre notice boards
Parent meetings
One-on-one conversations
Website updates

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters

These 2026 changes represent more than just regulatory compliance—they represent Australia’s collective commitment to the safety and well-being of our youngest citizens.

The Evidence Base

Research Shows:

High-quality ECEC delivers lifelong benefits for children
Child-safe cultures prevent abuse and harm
Early intervention and detection are critical
Transparency and accountability strengthen systems

The Societal Impact

When every child is safe, supported, and engaged in quality early learning:

Families thrive
Communities benefit
Educational outcomes improve
Social inequality reduces
Economic productivity increases

The Moral Imperative

Beyond regulations and standards, there’s a fundamental truth: children deserve to be safe. Every child who walks through our doors deserves an environment where:

They are protected from harm
Their rights are respected
Their well-being is paramount
Their potential is nurtured
Their voices are heard

The 2026 reforms support us all in fulfilling this moral obligation.

Your Role as a Family

Families play a crucial role in maintaining child-safe environments:

Stay Informed

Read communications from your centre
Attend parent information sessions
Ask questions about child safety
Stay updated on regulatory changes

Build Relationships

Get to know your child’s educators
Maintain open communication
Share relevant information about your child
Work collaboratively with the centre

Support Child Safety at Home

Talk to children about safe/unsafe touches
Teach body autonomy (“My body belongs to me”)
Create open communication about feelings
Listen and respond to children’s concerns

Know Your Rights

Access information through Starting Blocks
Understand complaints processes
Know how to raise concerns
Advocate for your child when needed

Conclusion: A Safer, Stronger Future

As we move through 2026, the landscape of early childhood education and care in Australia is transforming. These regulatory changes—from refined Quality Areas to mandatory training to digital device restrictions—represent the most comprehensive strengthening of child safety protections in the sector’s history.

At Trio Lane Early Learning Centre, we welcome these changes. They align with our values, support our mission, and enhance what we’ve always done: put children first.

Our Commitment to You:

✓ We will exceed every regulatory requirement
✓ We will maintain the highest standards of child safety
✓ We will continue to deliver exceptional early learning experiences
✓ We will partner with families in supporting children
✓ We will lead with transparency, integrity, and care

For Deception Bay Families:

As you consider early childhood education options for your family, we invite you to see firsthand how Trio Lane embodies these child safety principles. Tour our centre, meet our educators, experience our culture, and understand why families trust us with their most precious treasures.

The future of early childhood care is safer, stronger, and more transparent—and we’re proud to be part of creating that future every single day.

Visit Trio Lane Early Learning Centre

Experience Child Safety in Action

We invite Deception Bay families to tour Trio Lane and see how we implement the highest child safety standards while delivering exceptional early learning.

Trio Lane Early Learning Centre
5-9 Monarch Drive, Deception Bay, QLD 4508
Phone: (07) 2104 4583
Email: enrolments@trioel.com.au
Website: https://trioearlylearning.com.au/

Book Your Tour:

See our safe, engaging learning environments
Meet our qualified, dedicated educators
Learn about our child safety practices
Understand our educational programs
Ask questions about the 2026 changes

We’re Open:
Monday to Friday, 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
Serving families across Deception Bay, North Lakes, Mango Hill, Rothwell, and surrounding areas

Current Enrolments Available:
We welcome children from 6 weeks to 5 years across our nursery, toddler, and kindergarten programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When do all the 2026 changes take effect?
A: Changes are staggered. Some took effect on 1 September 2025. NQS refinements started 1 January 2026. The National Early Childhood Worker Register launches in February 2026. Mandatory child safety training begins 27 February 2026.

Q: How do I find out my current service’s NQS rating?
A: Visit www.startingblocks.gov.au and search for your service. You’ll find their current rating, assessment reports, and compliance history.

Q: What is Trio Lane’s NQS rating?
A: We’re proud to maintain high NQS standards. Contact us for our current rating and assessment reports, or check Starting Blocks.

Q: Can educators still use their personal phones at all?
A: Personal phones must be stored away while educators are working directly with children. They can be used during breaks, in emergencies, or when specifically authorised for necessary purposes (with records kept).

Q: What if my child’s educator doesn’t complete the mandatory training?
A: All educators must complete the mandatory child safety training. Services cannot employ educators who haven’t completed the required training. The Australian Government is providing free training and grants to support this.

Q: How will I know if there’s been a serious incident at my child’s service?
A: Services must notify families of serious incidents. This hasn’t changed. What has changed is that services must notify regulatory authorities within 24 hours of any allegation or incident of physical or sexual abuse.

Q: Are these changes because of specific incidents?
A: The changes follow a comprehensive Child Safety Review that examined the entire system. While concerning incidents have occurred in various jurisdictions, these reforms are about strengthening protections across the whole sector, not just responding to individual cases.

Q: Will class sizes or ratios change?
A: No. Educator-to-child ratios remain unchanged. The reforms focus on child safety systems, not staffing ratios.

Q: How much will the mandatory training cost services?
A: The Australian Centre for Child Protection training is free for ECEC staff. The Australian Government is also providing grants (from 1 July 2026) to small-to-medium providers to help cover wage costs while staff complete training.

Q: What happens to the photos educators take of my child?
A: Photos are taken on service-supplied devices, stored securely according to privacy policies, and shared with families through approved platforms (like parent communication apps). They cannot be shared on personal devices or social media without explicit permission.

Welcome to 2026: What’s Changing in Early Childhood Care