From 1 September 2025 and 1 January 2026, new reforms will come into effect that strengthen expectations around proactive child safety, leadership accountability, and the safe use of digital technologies. Understanding these changes is not optional—it is essential. By preparing now, you can help ensure our service moves beyond minimum compliance to show a genuine, whole-team commitment to child safety—something that sits at the heart of quality practice and professionalism in early educationThese changes come from the Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the NQF, released by ACECQA in December 2023. To support you, ACECQA has developed two new guides: the NQF Child Safe Culture Guide, focused on embedding child-safe practice in everything we do, and the NQF Online Safety Guide, which helps services manage risks and build safe digital environments for children. Updates will also be made to core reference materials, including the Guide to the NQF, so our everyday practice, policies, and reflections are aligned.
