An Introduction to Australia’s National Child Safety Review

What is the National Child Safety Review?

The National Child Safety Review is an assessment of child protection within the National Quality Framework (NQF) in Australia, aimed at strengthening safeguards in early childhood education and care. Originally commissioned in May 2023 and led by Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), it examines areas such as physical and online safety, staffing, supervision, and child protection systems. Reviews held in 2025 found the current NQF to be strong, but recommended 16 improvements to address risks to child safety.

Connection to Child Safe Standards in Australia

While not a law-making body, the National Child Safety Review is closely aligned with the Australian Child Safe Standards, as both emphasise creating environments where children are protected from harm and their wellbeing is prioritised. The review highlights the importance of strong governance, safe physical and online spaces, and effective systems for identifying and responding to risks, which directly mirror the principles of the child-safe standards. By embedding these practices into the NQF, the review strengthens accountability and ensures that early childhood education and care services consistently uphold child safety.

Importance

The importance of the National Child Safety Review lies in its role as a safeguard for children in childcare centres, schools, daycares, and other educational institutions. By assessing current protections and identifying areas for improvement, the review ensures that systems remain responsive to emerging risks such as online threats and evolving care environments. Its recommendations provide a roadmap for strengthening policies, practices, and accountability, reinforcing public trust and ensuring that child safety remains at the core of education and care services.

Key Domains

The National Child Safety Review primarily focuses on three key domains, each with its own significance to the review. These domains are as follows:

Physical and Online Environments

This domain examines how early childhood settings create safe physical spaces and address emerging online risks that may affect children. It emphasises the need for secure facilities, safe play areas, and the integration of digital safeguards where technology is used. The goal is to reduce environmental hazards and protect children from both physical and online harm.

Staffing and Supervision

This domain focuses on ensuring that services have adequate, qualified staff to provide effective supervision and care. It highlights the importance of clear ratios, staff training, and professional conduct to maintain safety and quality in interactions with children.

Strong oversight and well-prepared educators are key to preventing risks and promoting children’s wellbeing.

Child Protection Requirements

This domain looks at the systems in place to protect children, including working with children checks, mandatory reporting, and child protection laws. It stresses the need for services to have clear procedures for identifying, reporting, and responding to harm or suspected abuse. By embedding these requirements, the framework strengthens accountability and ensures consistent protection across all services.

Key Recommendations and Reforms

The National Child Safety Review has outlined specific recommendations and reforms to strengthen how child safety is embedded within the NQF. These measures build on existing protections while addressing gaps in governance, supervision, and the management of both physical and online risks.

16 Review Recommendations

In 2024, the National Child Safety Review created 16 targeted recommendations designed to enhance child safety arrangements under the NQF, with implementation starting in 2025.. These recommendations include improving child safety training for educators, updating risk management strategies for both physical and digital environments, and aligning practices more closely with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. They also call for stronger governance across all territories, as well as better integration of existing child protection schemes and clearer guidance for services to ensure consistency across jurisdictions.

Regulatory Changes

To support the 16 recommendations created in 2024, the National Child Safety Review of 2025 highlights the need for regulatory updates that better address emerging risks and reinforce compliance. This includes refining requirements around supervision, ensuring robust child safety reporting mechanisms, and strengthening oversight of online interactions in early childhood settings. The use of CCTV systems in certain contexts is also noted as a potential safeguard, helping childcare centres and educational organisations monitor environments more effectively while balancing privacy and ethical considerations.

NQS Adjustments

Adjustments to the NQS are also part of the proposed reforms, ensuring that child safety is further embedded into the quality assessment framework. This involves updating standards to reflect modern risks, strengthening safety benchmarks, and ensuring that services are regularly assessed against these updated expectations. By aligning the NQS with the review’s findings, child safety becomes a more explicit and measurable component of quality in childhood education and care.

How Technology Can Help with Child Safety

Modern technology can play a vital role in strengthening child safety by supporting more consistent monitoring, communication, and accountability across early childhood services. In line with the National Child Safety Review suggestions, the use of digital tools is encouraged, as it enables childcare and educational services to implement stronger systems that reduce risks and ensure compliance with updated child safety standards. By integrating technology into governance and daily practice, child safety becomes more proactive and transparent.

Some modern technologies that can help ensure compliance with the National Child Safety Review recommendations and other child safety standards include the following:

• Digital inspection forms – Helps ensure safety compliance by streamlining and documenting regular inspections and check-ins for childcare facilities and  environments

• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) management systems – Supports staff in consistently following standard operating procedures for child safety

• Online training platforms – Provides accessible and ongoing education to staff, reinforcing safety knowledge and skills

• CCTV monitoring tools – Allows services to track and review child supervision more effectively while enhancing accountability

• Asset management systems – Keeps track of CCTV technologies, childcare facilities, safety equipment, and toys in childcare and educational centres