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 5 pm. 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.
Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP said:
“I know this will be a bit of an inconvenience for some families.
“But we are doing this for a reason.
“There is nothing more important than our kids and keeping them safe.
“That’s what this mandatory training is all about.”
Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator the Hon Dr Jess Walsh said:
“This is a sensible way for providers to manage new mandatory safety training.
“This is one of a range of ways to deliver the mandatory safety training, including using employer-paid professional development time or through the $21 million the Albanese Government has provided to help centres conduct training.
“The training will enable educators and staff to identify behaviour that should be reported, and to have the confidence to report that behaviour in a timely manner.
“This is essential training which will make all children safer in early childhood education and care settings.”