In January 2026, significant changes came into effect under the National Quality Standard, with the most prominent and far-reaching update occurring in Element 2.2.3 – Child Safety and Protection. These changes reflect a stronger national commitment to child safe cultures, clearer accountability for adults, and more explicit expectations around how services identify, prevent and respond to harm.

With the Guide to the National Quality Standard now spanning 692 pages, it is neither practical nor necessary for busy educators and leaders to digest every detail. What matters most is understanding what has changed, what assessors are now looking for, and what services need to do differently in practice.

BEST Childcare Consulting was proud to be part of the consultation group for the new national child protection training, providing sector-informed input into how these requirements translate into real, workable practice for early childhood services.

This article provides a clear, assessment-ready breakdown of the exact new and strengthened wording in Element 2.2.3, with each phrase explained through:

practical actions services can implement immediately, and

guidance on where to access appropriate training, if required.

At the core of these changes is a clear expectation that services maintain a consolidated, intentional approach to child safety training, where all educators, staff, relief educators, students and volunteers complete the National Child Safety Training as a baseline, supported by WA-specific mandatory reporting obligations and ongoing learning in protective behaviours, online safety, trauma-informed practice and cultural safety.

This summary is designed to help services move beyond compliance — and confidently demonstrate embedded, consistent and Exceeding-level practice under the upd