The Australian Government is making changes in 2026 to help early childhood education and care (ECEC) staff complete mandatory child safety training while minimising impact on families.
This measure allows Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approved ECEC services to:
- close for up to 5 hours annually to support staff in completing mandatory child safety training
- continue claiming CCS during these closure periods.
Services will have flexibility in how they structure closures. However, to minimise disruption to families they must not close any earlier than 5pm. They may remain closed until the end of their standard operating hours.
Closures are not compulsory.
This:
- supports services to help staff complete mandatory child safety training
- minimises inconvenience for families
- responds to concerns about the time and cost of supporting staff to undertake the training.
This mandatory child safety training was announced in August 2025 as part of national reforms to improve safety and quality in ECEC. It is subject to the passage of legislation.
Providers must tell families early about closure timing. This will allow families time to find alternative care.
More information for providers, services and families will be available in the coming months.