Delivering safe, quality early learning

Flashback to my first keynote as new Minister to the National Early Years Summit back in June.

Six months later, as 2025 draws to a close, I want to reflect on our collective efforts to deliver safe, quality early learning.

Together, governments and the sector are making sweeping changes to strengthen early childhood education and care.

For the first time, children’s safety and wellbeing are clearly enshrined as the paramount consideration in our laws.

Across the sector, we’re building a stronger workforce with:
✅A historic 15% pay rise
✅Mandatory child-safe training
✅A national educator register
✅A rapid review of safe staffing practices

We’re delivering stronger rules in centres through:
✅A ban on personal devices that can take photos
✅A national assessment of CCTV
✅Clearer compliance information for parents

We’re strengthening regulation with:
✅Higher penalties
✅More regulator visits
✅New powers withdraw funding from poor providers

And with the paramountcy principle now embedded our laws, it is clear that:
✅Providers must actively prioritise children’s safety and wellbeing — every time
✅Regulators must do the same in enforcement
✅The entire sector shares responsibility for putting children first

Safe, high-quality early learning is good for children, good for families, and good for the economy.

And in 2026, we’ll keep working together to ensure every family can access the benefits of quality early childhood education and care.