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Child safety reforms

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​To ensure children are safe, supported and thriving, the Queensland Department of Education is strengthening current approaches and introducing a range of new initiatives and programs. These are designed to empower the sector and educators to further enhance safety and uphold the highest standards of quality care and include legislative amendments.

In addition, Queensland is also working closely with other states and territories, as well as the early childhood sector and experts, to expand safety measures and boost the quality of education and care services across the sector.

Strengthening child safety in early childhood education and care

National Child Safety Reforms are now underway and services must prepare for significant changes.

The Early Childhood Legislation Amendment (Child Safety) Act 2025​​ has now been passed by Victorian Parliament on behalf of all states and territories.

In 2025, Ministers agreed that dedicated, committed early childhood educators are our greatest asset in caring for, educating and keeping our children safe. Ministers agreed to a range of legislative reforms and regulatory changes. Read the Decision Regulation Impact Statement and outcomes from public consultation.

Access child safety reform resources​ for services.​

Key dates

  • 1 September 2025—regulatory amendments begin
  • 10 December 2025—National Quality Framework (NQF) legislative amendments commence: changes to statute of limitations; enhancing Regulatory Authorities' ability to share information with current approved providers, information sharing provisions with recruitment agencies, and penalties for providing false or misleading information to an approved provider or recruitment agency about a prohibition notice
  • 1 January 2026
    • changes to the National Quality Standard commence
    • Child Safe Standards apply to Queensland services
    • removal of rest period conditions
  • 2 January 2026—NQF legislative amendments commence: penalty infringement notices and increased penalty amoun​ts
  • 27 February 2026—all other NQF legislative amendments commence
  • 1 July 2026—Reportable Conduct Scheme begins for Q​ueensland services

Updates

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Learn about upcoming NQF legislative changes from 2026.
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Register for mandatory training, ahead of 27 February 2026.
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Access resources for your services to help navigate the changes.
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Demonstrate your shared commitment and that every interaction counts.
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Free programs now available.to increase confidence, knowledge and skills of educators.
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Guidance to help children's education and care services.
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Approved providers and their services can promote a child safe culture by adopting the voluntary National Model Code.
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More information on the Starting Blocks website for families choosing safe, high-quality services.
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The standards will support services to prepare for the Child Safe Organisations Act that comes into effect.
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To come into effect for Queensland services from July 2026.
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NQF amendments

From early 2026:

  • Legislative amendments commence to strengthen safety and quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.

From 1 Jan 2026:

  • New wording added to the National Quality Standard Quality Area 2 and 7.

From 1 Sept 2025:

  • New policy and procedures required for services around digital technologies.
  • Notification timeframes for allegations or incidents of physical and sexual abuse reduced from 7 days to 24 hours.
  • The use of vaping devices and substances prohibited in service environments.

Please access the information sheet (PDF, 3.4MB) for more information.

Queensland early childhood regulatory priorities

Learn about the child safety and other regulatory priorities for 2025–27, which focus on improving compliance and service quality.

Upcoming initiatives

Child safety training package

Queensland has worked closely with experts and fast-tracked the development of the nation's first formal Child Safety Training Package for all early childhood staff.

This new child safety training is a landmark national initiative, as part of the child safety reforms and aims to strengthen child safety across Australia's ECEC sector.

Led by the Australian Centre for Child Protection (ACCP) and the Queensland Government on behalf of all state, territory and Australian governments, this nationally consistent, evidence-informed training package will support staff, volunteers and service leadership.

From 27 February 2026, all persons with management and control, nominated supervisors, persons in day-to-day charge and other staff, volunteers and students in ECEC must complete mandatory national child safety training.

Individuals will need a Geccko account to access and complete the training within the prescribed transition period.

Learn more about the mandatory national child safety training and register for Geccko.

The Child Safety Training Package is scheduled to be available in 2026.

Reforming Early Childhood Safety Program

The Queensland Reforming Early Childhood Safety (RECS) Program is an education and training program to support services to understand and respond to the national child safety reforms. It is delivered in partnership with the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

Early childhood professionals working in targeted Queensland regulated early childhood services, particularly those run by small providers and those in remote communities, will have access to the RECS Program.

Visit the ACECQA website for free resources and practical tools to help services build a culture of safety, ensuring that every child is protected and nurtured in their learning environment.

Queensland training and resources

Child safety reform information session

This recorded webinar session is available for approved providers and services to learn about and prepare for the upcoming legislative changes.

Watch the child safety reform information session video.

Protective behaviours and behaviour guidance training

Free protective behaviours and behaviour guidance training, together with intensive face-to-face coaching, available for Queensland early childhood educators, in partnership with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and Autism Queensland.

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Last updated 23 December 2025