n early childhood education and care, nothing matters more than the safety and wellbeing of the children entrusted to us. When a child lives with asthma, anaphylaxis, diabetes, epilepsy, or another diagnosed medical condition, families place an even deeper level of trust in educators and service leaders. They trust that every risk has been anticipated. They trust that every educator knows what to do. They trust that systems are strong, clear, and consistently followed.
On 27 January 2026, ACECQA released an updated template that strengthens how services plan, communicate and manage medical conditions. While this update does not change the law itself, it significantly improves how services demonstrate compliance, governance, and Exceeding-level practice.
This article explains what changed, what stayed the same, and what BEST recommends services do next.
