NSW Child Safety Reforms: What ECEC Providers Need to Know

On 24 April 2026, a new tranche of NSW child safety reforms came into effect for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across New South Wales.

The reforms are designed to strengthen child-safe practices across the sector and place greater emphasis on provider accountability, workforce practices and organisational culture.

While many providers already have strong safeguarding measures in place, the changes introduce additional requirements around recruitment, policies, reporting and governance.

Here’s what ECEC providers need to know.

Why Were The NSW Child Safety Reforms Introduced?

The reforms form part of the NSW Government’s broader response to strengthening child safety across the ECEC sector.

The objective is clear: ensure children’s safety, welfare and wellbeing remain paramount in every aspect of service operation, from recruitment and induction through to daily practice and governance.

For providers, the reforms reinforce the importance of having documented systems, clear policies and a workforce that understands its role in maintaining a child-safe environment.

Child-Safe Recruitment and Employment Practices

One of the most significant changes for providers relates to staffing policies.

Approved providers are now required to ensure their staffing policies outline clear child-safe recruitment and employment practices.

While Working With Children Checks remain a critical requirement, the reforms recognise that creating a child-safe workforce extends beyond compliance checks alone.

Providers should consider how their recruitment processes support child safety, including:

• Recruitment and selection procedures
• Reference and qualification checks
• Employee induction processes
• Ongoing supervision and support
• Professional conduct expectations
• Child safety training and awareness

For many services, this may involve reviewing existing recruitment and onboarding processes to ensure they align with the new requirements.

Child-Safe Environment Policies and Procedures

The reforms also introduce additional requirements for service policies and procedures.

Approved providers must ensure their policies clearly outline how the service provides a child-safe environment and supports children’s safety, welfare and wellbeing.

This includes documenting processes relating to:

• Child protection
• Reporting concerns and incidents
• Child protection risk management
• Maintaining child protection records
• Attendance procedures and accounting for children
• Staff responsibilities relating to child safety

The intention is to ensure child safety is embedded into everyday operations rather than treated as a standalone compliance obligation.

Protected Disclosures and Speaking Up

Another key reform area is the introduction of protected disclosure requirements.

Providers are required to have processes in place that support the reporting of concerns and protect individuals who make disclosures.

Often referred to as whistleblower protections, these requirements help create environments where staff can confidently raise concerns without fear of reprisal.

Services must have appropriate policies in place and ensure employees understand how concerns can be reported and managed.

Creating a culture where concerns can be raised early is an important part of maintaining a child-safe organisation.

Additional Record-Keeping and Governance Requirements

The reforms also introduce several changes relating to record keeping and governance.

Depending on the service type and circumstances, providers may need to maintain additional information relating to:

• Educators working directly with children
• Educational leader appointments
• Working With Children Check details
• Staff allocations and responsibilities
• Child protection records

Accurate and accessible records play an important role in demonstrating compliance and supporting effective oversight.

What Should Providers Be Doing Now?

With the reforms now in effect, providers should consider reviewing:

Recruitment Processes

Ensure staffing policies reflect child-safe recruitment and employment practices.

Onboarding Programs

Confirm child safety expectations are clearly communicated to all new employees.

Policies and Procedures

Review child safety, child protection and protected disclosure policies to ensure they align with current requirements.

Staff Awareness

Ensure employees understand their responsibilities and know how to raise concerns appropriately.

Record-Keeping Practices

Check that required documentation is accurate, current and easily accessible.

Child Safety Starts with Strong Systems and Strong Teams

While the reforms introduce new requirements, they also provide an opportunity for providers to review the systems and practices that support quality outcomes for children.

Strong policies, capable leaders and well-supported educators all play an important role in creating child-safe environments.

Just as importantly, building a child-safe organisation starts long before an educator enters the room. It begins with the people you hire, the processes you follow and the culture you create.

How Firefly HR Can Help

As providers review their workforce practices in response to the reforms, recruitment and onboarding processes are a natural place to start.

Firefly HR works exclusively with ECEC and OSHC providers, helping services attract, recruit and retain high-quality educators and leaders.

Whether you’re reviewing recruitment processes, strengthening your onboarding experience or growing your leadership team, we can help you build a workforce that supports both compliance and quality outcomes.

Because creating child-safe environments starts with building strong teams.