A national assessment was commissioned by Education Ministers in August 2025 to explore the use of CCTV in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings.
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Project overview
Governments across Australia are working together to strengthen safety, improve quality, and protect children in 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 was undertaken to explore the use of CCTV in ECEC. The assessment:
- had a strong focus on ethics, safety, and transparency
- took place in a range of service types, including those in regional, rural, and remote communities.
The assessment has contributed to a strong evidence base to inform nationally consistent best practice guidelines. This includes consideration of how to manage privacy, data storage, and day-to-day operations.
On behalf of all governments, the department engaged the Nous Group to lead the design and delivery of this assessment and KPMG to independently evaluate assessment findings. In delivering the assessment both organisations worked closely with:
- the department
- state and territory governments
- subject matter experts
- ECEC providers, educators, and families.
An expert panel was established to support assessment design and implementation on an as-needed basis. Members 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.
Conclusion of assessment
The assessment has now concluded. Over 300 services participated nationally. The assessment included collection of baseline information and participating in a national data collection period from April to June 2026.
Nous Group and KPMG have provided their final reports and advice to governments.
Education Ministers will consider findings from the assessment in November 2026.
Participation payments
Up to $15 million in participation funding was available to eligible small and medium providers taking part in the assessment.
Participation payments have been made to eligible participating services.
Frequently asked questions
Can you explain why you’re undertaking this assessment? Is it because the government wants to roll out CCTV everywhere?
No, this assessment is not about setting the foundations for a national rollout of CCTV. Its purpose is to understand how CCTV is currently used in ECEC settings, including the associated costs, benefits, and risks. The assessment will provide advice to all governments on best practice, such as guidelines for footage retention. As CCTV becomes more common, the aim is to ensure greater consistency in approaches and to build an evidence base to inform future policy.
What evidence do you have that CCTV will make any difference? What research and other applications are being considered in the assessment design?
There is no clear evidence one way or the other, which is why this assessment is important. A review of research and examples of CCTV in other care sectors and in ECEC systems overseas has been completed as part of the assessment design. There are few studies that examine the impact that CCTV has on child safety in terms of preventing crime, or whether it supports effective and efficient investigation and prosecution. This assessment is designed to address these evidence gaps and to inform future policy.
How will you be engaging with parents, staff and sector stakeholders?
Parents will be engaged through surveys and focus groups, with providers asked to distribute survey links and draft communications. Staff engagement will include a concise workforce survey and focus groups involving a representative cross-section of the ECEC workforce. In addition, an expert panel—comprising sector experts and representatives from the two main ECEC workforce unions—will provide informed views. Broader stakeholder engagement will involve large providers, regulators, state and territory governments, parents, workforce representatives, and sector peak bodies, ensuring that a wide range of perspectives are considered throughout the assessment.
How will First Nations perspectives be considered in the assessment?
The assessment is committed to respecting and incorporating First Nations perspectives at every stage. This includes meaningful engagement and consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities before any installation or operation of CCTV systems in ECEC settings. We will conduct dedicated First Nations engagement activities to seek perspectives on the use of CCTV, engaging with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Committee (NATSIEC) and SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children to ensure appropriate representation and cultural safety. These engagements will help guide the assessment’s approach, ensuring that First Nations voices are heard and reflected in both the process and outcomes.
More information
For more information email cctvassessment@nousgroup.com.