Early childhood policy experts have welcomed the recommendations of a sweeping review into Victoria’s early childhood education and care system, after high-profile allegations of abuse sparked public outrage and left parents shaken.
Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan, in a heartfelt statement, said families deserved better. “Every parent deserves to trust that when they drop their child off at childcare they are safe and protected.”
“The recent allegations of shocking abuse in childcare centres have broken that. They have broken families’ trust and they’ve broken my trust – as Premier and as a mum. That’s why the Victorian Government is announcing a child safety overhaul.”
The Government has committed to a $42 million package to strengthen child safety in early childhood education and care, accepting all 22 recommendations of the independent Rapid Child Safety Review.
Advocacy group The Front Project, which has long pushed for a national commission to oversee the sector, said the moment was a turning point. Its CEO, Dr Caroline Croser-Barlow, warned that without a coordinated national approach, governments were left to “play whack-a-mole with individual situations” rather than address systemic problems.
She said it was encouraging to see Premier Allan support the creation of a national body ahead of a crucial meeting of state, territory and federal education ministers in Sydney.
“The immediate actions announced by the Victorian Government today will provide comfort to parents. There are some critical reforms in this package, but more importantly, we welcome Victoria’s push for a long-term national solution,”
Dr Croser-Barlow said.
Among the reforms are legislative changes to allow the immediate suspension of Working with Children Checks, the creation of a new nation-leading regulator that will more than double compliance checks, a stronger Social Services Regulator that combines the Working with Children Check, the Reportable Conduct Scheme and Child Safe Standards under one roof, and mandatory child safety training for all staff.
The reforms will also expand professional support programs and call on the Federal Government to prioritise quality and safety at the national level.
The Rapid Child Safety Review was commissioned following serious allegations of child sexual abuse in early learning settings. Led by Jay Weatherill AO and Pam White PSM, the review was delivered to the Government on 15 August 2025.
It made 22 recommendations, including six aimed at strengthening Victoria’s regulator, three focused on staff training and education, and 11 directed at national advocacy. The report concluded that while reforms can improve Victoria’s oversight, true safety and quality improvements require federal leadership and a coordinated national response.
Premier Allan said immediate steps were already underway. “Nothing is more important to me than protecting our children. Parents must be able to drop their children off at childcare, knowing they will be encouraged to play and learn – trusting they will be safe.”
“That trust has been horribly broken. And to every family who has been hurt by these horrifying allegations, I am truly sorry.
You put your trust in a system, and that system let you down. As a mum, I cannot begin to imagine that pain. But as Premier, I can do everything in my power to act.”
The Premier added that broader change would take place through national reforms. “The actions of Victoria alone will not fix the quality and safety issues in early childhood education and care. We will keep working with the Federal Government to deliver the national reforms families expect and deserve.”
Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said strengthening the Working with Children Check scheme was crucial. “The reformed Victorian Working with Children Check scheme will ensure greater information sharing and transparency so we can take immediate action to protect children.”
“By strengthening the scheme, we’re sending a clear message that any risk to child safety will not be tolerated anywhere.”
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn said the reforms would enable safer, more transparent oversight. “Reforms to the early childhood education and care settings are crucial to ensuring Victorian children are cared for and learn in safe environments.”
“These changes will enable us to better share information across settings where children are cared for, learn and play – so that they are safe.”
The new independent early childhood regulator, to be established by the end of 2025, will also oversee the Early Childhood Workforce Register introduced earlier this year. It will more than double the number of compliance checks and is intended to provide parents with greater confidence that services are safe and accountable.
The expanded Social Services Regulator will have the power to act on unsubstantiated allegations and intelligence to prevent predators from slipping through the cracks.
Mandatory online training will also be introduced for anyone applying for a Working with Children Check, and legislation will remove the ability to appeal refusals, suspensions or revocations through VCAT. The government will further invest in building a culture of “speaking up” by strengthening professional development programs, and will work with experts to provide parents with online training to recognise signs of grooming and abuse.
Dr Croser-Barlow said the review reinforced that the best interests of children must guide every decision. “While the current market-driven model for early childhood education and care remains, the risks to quality and safety will persist.”
“The safety of children must be paramount. Quality has too often been the missing middle – caught between state and federal responsibilities – and that must change.”
She added that while thousands of dedicated educators turn up every day to support children, they also need structured support, paid professional development leave, and mandatory training to lift standards across the system. “The other key to safety is our educators,” she said.
“They deserve the tools and support to ensure safety is embedded in every aspect of their work.”
Premier Allan acknowledged the crucial role educators play. “I want to acknowledge and thank the thousands of dedicated educators and early childhood workers across our state. I know this has been an incredibly difficult time for you all. And I want you to know how much your work matters to so many families.”
“Every child deserves to be safe — and every parent must be able to trust that the system will keep them safe.”
The review has laid out a roadmap for change, but experts and government leaders alike agree that lasting reform will require cooperation between Victoria, other states and territories, and the Commonwealth. With education ministers meeting in Sydney this week, the push for a nationally coordinated framework for safety and quality in early childhood services has gained new urgency.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
