Families can now access more safety information and spot checks have commenced to strengthen standards in early childhood education and care.
The Australian Government is delivering new measures to keep children safe in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.
Spot checks underway
Unannounced spot checks have started at ECEC services across Australia. These visits by authorised officers help ensure services meet their legal obligations and administer the Child Care Subsidy correctly. They also allow officers to identify and report any safety or quality concerns to state and territory regulators.
Spot checks are about lifting standards and giving families confidence that services are safe and compliant.
More transparency for families
StartingBlocks.gov.au provides clear, detailed information about ECEC services, including:
- when a regulator last visited a service
- any conditions placed on providers
- the link between a service and its provider.
From 26 November, more compliance and enforcement information is published on StartingBlocks.gov.au. This gives parents and families more information about regulatory and compliance activity at their service. Updates include the number of actions issued by regulators over the past 2 years, including:
- when approval has been amended
- when a compliance notice has been issued
- when a notice of suspension has been issued
- any conditions imposed on the service
- any emergency action notices issued
- any enforceable undertakings.
These updates make it easier for parents to make informed choices about their child’s care.
Find out more
Visit StartingBlocks.gov.au to learn more about what these changes mean for families and how they support safe, high-quality care for children.