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Child safety has always been central to early childhood education and care in Australia. But the way we prepare educators, staff, and volunteers to uphold that responsibility has changed significantly. From 27 February 2026, new mandatory child safety training under the National Quality Framework applies to every person working or volunteering in the sector, regardless of whether they work directly with children.
For centre owners, directors, and approved providers, understanding what this training involves, who it applies to, and what is expected is essential for maintaining childcare compliance in Australia and reinforcing a genuine culture of safeguarding in childcare.
Why Has Child Safety Training Changed?
The introduction of nationally consistent child protection training is the result of years of review and reform. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2017) found that children were harmed in care settings because organisations lacked clear safety practices, strong cultures, and adequate training.
In 2023, the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) completed a review of child safety under the NQF, finding that stronger safeguards and better training were needed. In response, Section 162B was added to the Education and Care Services National Law, establishing a legal requirement for all persons involved in education and care to complete approved child safety training. This represents a clear elevation of educator training standards towards a nationally consistent approach.
What Is the Foundations of Child Safety Training?
The training, formally known as the Foundations of Child Safety, was developed by the Queensland Government in partnership with the Australian Centre for Child Protection, on behalf of all Australian jurisdictions. It is a free, evidence-informed training package available through the Australian Government's Geccko learning platform.
The training comprises two foundation-level courses:
- Course 1: Understanding Child Safety: covering child safe culture, children's rights, the influence of values and beliefs on practice, diversity and inclusivity, and child development and vulnerability.
- Course 2: Understanding and Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect: addressing the recognition of different forms of abuse and neglect, grooming behaviours, professional boundaries, and mandatory reporting obligations.
An advanced level, Advanced Child Safety in Practice, is expected from July 2026.
Who Must Complete the Training?
Under Section 162B, the following individuals must complete the mandatory training:
- Persons with management or control of a service
- Nominated supervisors
- Persons in day-to-day charge
- Staff members, including family day care educators
- Volunteers, including students
The obligation extends well beyond educators. Administrative, maintenance, and support staff, as well as board members and approved providers, are all captured. Child safety is a shared responsibility, and every role within a service contributes to a child safe environment.
Foundation training must be completed within six months of 27 February 2026. Once the advanced training is released, all relevant personnel will have a further six months. Refresher training is required every two years, and penalties apply for approved providers who fail to ensure completion.
What Key Areas Does the Training Address?
The training has been designed to be trauma-aware, culturally considered, and informed by people with lived experience. It covers the following areas:
- Building a child safe culture - understanding what child safety looks like in practice and how organisational culture supports children's wellbeing.
- Children's rights - upholding children's rights, listening to their voices, and acting in their best interests.
- Values, beliefs, and bias - recognising how personal values and implicit bias influence child safe practice.
- Diversity and inclusion - ensuring child protection training accounts for the diverse needs of children and families.
- Child development and vulnerability - understanding the individual, relational, and systemic factors that may increase a child's vulnerability.
- Recognising abuse and neglect - identifying signs and impacts of different forms of harm.
- Grooming and professional boundaries - identifying grooming behaviours and maintaining child-safe boundaries.
- Mandatory reporting - building a clear understanding of reporting obligations and reportable conduct requirements.
Why Does This Matter for Childcare Providers?
This training is not simply another compliance checkbox. It represents a shift from fragmented, jurisdiction-specific requirements towards a nationally consistent standard of child protection training.
Childcare compliance in Australia now explicitly links child safety capability to the legal obligations of approved providers. Beyond compliance, the training supports services in meeting the National Quality Standard, particularly Quality Area 2 (Children's Health and Safety) and Element 2.2.3 (Child Protection).
For operators managing multiple sites or large teams, the logistical considerations are significant. Every individual must hold their own personal Geccko account, shared logins do not meet the requirements. New starters must complete foundation training within 14 days of commencement or before working directly with children, whichever is shorter.
What Should Centres Be Doing Now?
Centres should be taking the following steps:
- Audit your workforce to identify every person captured by the requirement, including volunteers, students, and support staff.
- Register all staff on Geccko using individual personal email accounts.
- Build a completion schedule that allows all personnel to finish foundation courses well within the six-month window.
- Plan for advanced training by factoring in the expected July 2026 release and subsequent completion period.
- Review internal policies to ensure safeguarding procedures align with the frameworks covered in the training.
- Maintain records of training completion for each individual, as regulatory authorities may request evidence.
Industry Outlook
The Foundations of Child Safety training marks the beginning of Australia's evolving approach to safeguarding in childcare. With advanced courses to follow and a two-year refresher cycle, child protection training will become an ongoing part of professional development in the sector.
Providers should anticipate that regulatory scrutiny around child safety will continue to intensify. Future reforms may introduce additional requirements around recruitment screening, risk management, and child safe governance. For organisations committed to quality care, staying ahead of these requirements reflects genuine commitment to the children and families they serve.
Summary
Australia's new mandatory child safety training for childcare educators commenced on 27 February 2026 under Section 162B of the Education and Care Services National Law. The Foundations of Child Safety training is free, nationally consistent, and must be completed by all staff, volunteers, and persons with management or control within six months. It covers child safe culture, children's rights, recognising abuse and neglect, mandatory reporting, grooming awareness, and professional boundaries. Advanced training follows from July 2026, with refresher training required every two years.
Conclusion
The new child safety training for childcare educators is a significant step in strengthening child protection across Australia's early learning sector. For centre owners, directors, and operators, the priority is clear: ensure your teams are registered, informed, and supported to complete the training within the required timeframes.
At Quickcare, we recognise the importance of these reforms and remain committed to supporting a workforce that meets the highest standards of child safety and compliance. Centres that embed child safe practices into their culture, not just their compliance registers, will be best positioned to deliver the quality of care that children and families deserve.
For more information, visit the ACECQA child safety training page or the Australian Government Department of Education.
