Governments across Australia are working together to strengthen safety, improve quality, and protect children in early childhood education and care (ECEC).
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) can play a role in supporting child safety in early childhood settings. But there are important questions about how to use it responsibly.
A national assessment will explore the use of CCTV in ECEC. It will involve up to 300 ECEC services nationally and:
- have a strong focus on ethics, safety, and transparency
- take place in a range of service types, including those in regional, rural, and remote communities.
It will build a strong evidence base to inform a set of nationally consistent best practice guidelines. This includes how to manage privacy, data storage, and day-to-day operations.
The department has engaged the Nous Group on behalf of all governments to lead the design and delivery of this assessment. They will work closely with:
- the department
- state and territory governments
- subject matter experts
- ECEC providers, educators, and families.
An expert panel will also support the assessment. Members will include representatives from:
- the Australian Centre for Child Protection (ACCP)
- Australian Federal Police (AFP)
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)
- National Office for Child Safety
- Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)
- and other key organisations.
The design phase is currently underway. Implementation will begin in early 2026.
As this is a joint national project, state and territory governments will help Nous identify providers interested in participating.
An independent evaluator will review the outcomes and provide recommendations for consideration. A final report will be delivered to education ministers in the third quarter of 2026.
For more information email cctvassessment@nousgroup.com.