Parents dropping their children off at early learning centres every day need to trust that those caring for them are capable, supported and prepared. The deluge of reports of abuse and neglect in some services around the country have shattered that trust.
Any and every measure designed to lift quality and improve safety is necessary.
The Albanese Government’s announcement allowing childcare services to close for mandatory child safety training, while still collecting the Child Care Subsidy, is a vital and welcome step. It is a tangible example of the Commonwealth using its biggest lever – funding – to drive real improvements in early childhood education.
It reflects the Commonwealth recognising that workforce quality and child safety are national priorities, not just operational details for individual centres to manage.
Paid professional development time brings early childhood education closer to the professionalism of schools, where pupil-free days for training are expected and accepted, notwithstanding the impact on parents.
Safety doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when professionals are well-trained, valued, and properly supported. Today, the final 5% of the 15% wage increase for early educators comes into effect, a historic and welcome boost. A professionally qualified and fairly paid workforce is the most important investment we can make in high-quality ECEC. And high-quality ECEC means children are safer.
Early educators carry enormous responsibility, often without adequate time, resources or recognition. Investing $40 million annually so centres can conduct this training without penalising families is welcome. The mandatory safety training, developed by the Australian Centre for Child Protection, will equip educators to spot warning signs, step in decisively and report abuse more confidently. That is exactly what parents expect: a system where red flags are identified early and every child is protected.
Some families may find occasional early closures inconvenient. But just as schools close for curriculum days, giving early educators paid time for professional development is non-negotiable. The alternative, under-supported educators responsible for our most vulnerable children, is unacceptable.
If we are serious about preventing harm, we must invest in the people who care for children. Paid training is not a luxury; it is an essential safeguard for every child’s wellbeing. These reforms, though welcome, do not replace the need for an independent Early Childhood Commission, which remains critical for systemic oversight, accountability and lasting reform.