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Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a shared national priority.

Governments across Australia have come together to work with the sector to strengthen safety, improve quality and better protect children in early childhood education and care services.

National Law changes

A comprehensive national reform package under the Early Childhood Legislation Amendment (Child Safety) Act 2025 began rolling out in stages from 10 December 2025. This is the most signficant strengthening of child safety requirements in early childhood education and care since the National Quality Framework (NQF) began in 2012.

These legislative changes will

strengthen the safety, quality and accountability of early childhood services
give families greater confidence in the care and education their children receive
ensure providers continue to meet the highest standards of safety and professionalism.

The changes strengthen oversight and embed child safety into every service, including through

safe use of digital devices, including a ban on personal devices whilst working with children
making inappropriate conduct an offence
expanding powers of Regulatory Authorities
establishing a national early childhood worker register to give regulators clear visibility of who is working in the sector and where
mandating nationally consistent child safety training for all workers and those in management or control
additional measures for family day care.

To support families to access information on quality, safety and compliance within services, additional information is available on StartingBlocks.gov.au

How we're supporting services in South Australia

Children's safety is paramount in the early learning sector. We understand how new requirements can put pressure on already busy services.

The OECD is funding several initiatives to better support early childhood education and care providers.

Child Safety Grants

The Child Safety Grants support child safety across the state, with $2.2 million in grant funding available to strengthen existing child safety practices in long day care services and non-government preschools.

Department for Education preschools will also receive support to prepare for changes required under the National Law, separate to these grants.

The Child Safety Grants will be available to all long day care and non-government sessional preschool services, including Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

Quality Uplift Program

In South Australia the OECD is partnering with the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) to deliver the Quality Uplift Program.

The free, 6-month tailored professional learning program supports early childhood services rated as 'Working Towards' the National Quality Standard. This includes Flying Start partner services delivering 3-year-old preschool from 2026.

Partner services rated as 'Working Towards' must engage with the Quality Uplift Program to continue to be eligible for preschool funding.

See the ACECQA website for more information.

Concerns about child safety

To view quality information and regulatory activities at your child's service or a service you are interested in, visit StartingBlocks.gov.au

If you have concerns about child safety at a service and want to lodge a complaint, you should first try to resolve the matter directly with the service's approved provider or a person in a senior role at the service.

Your service must have contact information for complaints displayed at the premises and procedures in place to handle complaints.

If your issue is serious or critical, and you are unable to resolve the issue with the service, you can make a complaint to the Education Standards Board.

If you have concerns about a child's immediate safety, contact the police.

Have a question?

Please contact OECD.Engage@sa.gov.au