What Changed in NQS 7.1.2 Management Systems — Practical Guide to What Services Must Do Now

Perfect for January 2026 New National Quality Standards for Childcare in Australia

By BEST Childcare Consulting

In January 2026, further significant changes came into effect under the National Quality Standard, with Element 7.1.2 – Management Systems strengthened to clearly embed child safety as a governance and leadership responsibility. Systems are in place to manage risk and enable the effective management and operation of a quality service, included now is the phrase ‘that is child safe’.

These changes confirm that child safety must be intentionally designed, governed, monitored and continuously improved through management systems — not left to informal practices or individual judgement.

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 strengthened wording in Element 7.1.2, translating each requirement into:

  • practical actions services can implement immediately, and
  • targeted training options to strengthen practice and evidence.

See following article for information on changes to 2.2.3 

What Changed in NQS 2.2.3 Child Safety and Protection — Practical Guide to What Services Must Do Now

4 Most Important starting points 

1.Become a child safe organisation

https://humanrights.gov.au/resource-hub/resources-for-organisations-businesses/child-safe-organisations

2.Register on Geccko site for free mandatory national child safety training beginning 27 Feb 2026 

https://learning.education.gov.au/register

3.WA Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Training & Guidance
https://www.wa.gov.au/service/community-services/child-protection/mandatory-reporting-child-abuse

4. eSafety Commissioner – Early Years Online Safety Training

https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/early-years

ELEMENT 7.1.2 – Management systems

Systems are in place to manage risk and enable the effective management and operation of a quality service that is child safe

Practical actions to implement

  • Review governance, staffing, digital, complaints and records systems through a child safety lens.
  • Document child safety risks, controls and review cycles.
  • Assign clear accountability for child safety governance to approved providers, nominated supervisors and coordinators.
  • Link child safety risk management to QIP priorities and continuous improvement.

Training

NEW. Notifying the regulatory authority 

Notifying the regulatory authority of operational changes, incidents and complaints allegation that physical or sexual abuse of a child or children has occurred or is occurring while the child is or the children are being educated and cared for by the service.

Practical actions to implement

  • Maintain clear procedures for identifying notifiable incidents and allegations.
  • Ensure leadership understands reporting thresholds and timeframes.
  • Document internal escalation pathways and record-keeping requirements.

Training

NEW. Risk management and employing fit and proper staff

  • Checking and maintaining accurate records that relate to the fitness and propriety of all staff, including relief and agency staff, assists in safeguarding children against risks to their safety and wellbeing, including Working With Children/Working With Vulnerable People Checks (WWCC/WWVP) or relevant teacher registration as a minimum step. This also applies to volunteers and students on practicum placements.
  • Thorough recruitment processes emphasising a commitment to children’s safety and wellbeing, including through advertisement, interview processes and candidate reference checks support a child safe organisational culture. Child safe recruitment practices provide insights into how applicants’ views align with the service’s code of conduct, Statement of Commitment to Child Safety, statement of philosophy and child safety policies and procedures.

Practical actions to implement

  • Maintain a central register for WWCC / WWVP checks and teacher registration.
  • Apply checks consistently to permanent, relief, agency staff, volunteers and students.
  • Audit records regularly for accuracy and currency.

Training

NEW. Records management

Assessors may discuss:

  • the service’s systems for managing risks with online safety with regard

to staff and children’s use of digital devices including any age controls, checking apps for age-appropriate content before they are used, parental controls and any restrictions for children’s personal devices.

  • procedures and security protocols which ensure only appropriate staff at the service have access to images and videos of children and only use service-issued digital devices (where applicable at the service) when

taking images or videos of children while providing education and care

  • how the service’s practices relating to confidentiality of records consider the secure storage of images and videos of children and how to manage risks of any relevant breaches.

Assessors may sight:

  • completed self-assessments and risk assessments of current practices and progress in creating child-safe environments (both offline and online).

Practical actions to implement

  • Conduct digital and online safety risk assessments.
  • Apply age controls, app checks and device restrictions.
  • Restrict access to images and videos to authorised staff only.
  • Ensure secure storage, access controls and breach-response procedures.

Training

NEW. Complaints management

Assessors may discuss:

  • how the management of any complaints or grievances lodged with the service is child focussed

Assessors may observe:

  • that the service’s practices are consistent with documented policies and procedures.

Assessors may discuss:

  • the ways in which all policies and procedures prioritise children’s safety and reflect the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations the ways in which families are encouraged to contribute to the development and review of policies

Practical actions to implement

  • Review complaints policies to ensure they are child focused.
  • Train staff to respond to complaints through a child-safety lens.
  • Ensure everyday practice aligns with documented procedures.

Training

NEW. Required policies and procedures available to families

Assessors may sight the following required policies and procedures available at the service, which are also available to families:

  • the safe use of digital technologies and online environments at the service
  • service management policies and procedures, including: child-focussed complaints process

Practical actions to implement

  • Ensure policies are current, accessible and family-facing, including:
    • safe use of digital technologies and online environments
    • child-focused complaints process.
  • Align all policies with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
  • Actively invite family input into policy review.

Training

NEW. Fit and proper staff

Assessors may discuss:

  • how staff involved in recruitment are supported to apply a child-safety lens,

maintain strong child-safety awareness, and understand how this informs decisions about selecting fit and proper candidates, who are suitable to be involved in the operation of an education and care service

Assessors may discuss:

  • how the approved provider, nominated supervisors and family day care

co-ordinators support staff who undertake the recruitment process, to have strong child safety awareness and understand its relevance to selecting suitable, fit and proper candidates

Practical actions to implement

  • Train staff involved in recruitment to apply a child-safety lens.
  • Embed child safety values into advertisements, interviews and referee checks.
  • Ensure recruitment decisions demonstrate alignment with child safety policies and philosophy.

Training

NEW. Standard 7.1 Exceeding theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations

How do well established governance arrangements and administrative systems consistently support the operation of a high quality service that is child safe and drive continuous quality improvement?

Practical actions to implement

  • Embed child safety across governance, staffing, digital and records systems.
  • Review systems regularly and improve proactively.
  • Maintain clear leadership accountability.

Training

NEW. Standard 7.1 Exceeding theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection

How do educators, co-ordinators and those with management responsibilities critically reflect on the role of and safe use of digital devices and online environments at the service?

Practical actions to implement

  • Engage in regular reflection on digital device use and online risks.
  • Adjust supervision, policies and environments in response.
  • Document reflective decisions and resulting improvements.

Training

Summary of training opportunities

Mandatory & Core Child Safety Training

Governance, Child Safe Organisations & National Principles

Mandatory Reporting & Regulatory Obligations (WA)

Recruitment, Fit and Proper Staff & Safe Adult Behaviour

Digital Safety, Online Environments & Record Management

Complaints Management & Child-Focused Responses

Critical Reflection, Continuous Improvement & Exceeding Practice

BEST Childcare Consulting

We support services to translate governance and regulatory change into confident, practical systems. If you need support reviewing management systems, auditing records, strengthening child-safe recruitment or aligning your governance practices with Standard 7.1.2, we are here to help.

Together, we build safer services, stronger governance and cultures where child safety is embedded at every level.
Contact us TODAY.

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