“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is Child protection.
Element 2.2.3: Management, educators and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities to identify and respond to every child at risk of abuse or neglect.
Is your service preparing for the upcoming regulatory changes aimed to strengthen child safety and protection in education and care services?
From September 1st, 2025, several updates to the Education and Care Services National Regulations will directly impact how services meet Standard 2.2 including Element 2.2.3. These changes, informed by the NQF Child Safety Review, aim to enhance accountability and responsiveness in child protection. Key updates include:
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- Policies and procedures for the safe use of digital technologies and online environments.
- Notification timeframes for physical and sexual abuse.
- Prohibiting the use of vaping substances and devices.
Safe use of digital technologies and online environments policy and procedures (r168):
From September 1st 2025, services must have a policy and procedures in place that detail a clear set of guidelines that address the safe use of digital technologies and online environments at the service, including the following:
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- The taking, use, storage and destruction of images and videos of children being educated and cared for by the service.
- Obtaining authorisation from parents to take, use and store images and videos of children being educated and cared for by the service.
- The use of any optical surveillance device at the service (e.g. CCTV).
- The use of any digital device issued by the service.
- The use of digital devices by children being educated and cared for by the service.
The service policy and procedures for the safe use of digital technologies and online environments should align with the National Model Code for taking images or videos of children.
Reduced notification timeframes for allegations or incidents of physical and sexual abuse (r176):
From September 1st, 2025, the notification period for approved providers to notify the regulatory authority of any allegations or incidents of physical or sexual abuse to a child while being educated and cared for will reduce from 7 days to 24 hours.
Services will need to update their reporting procedures, relevant policies and resources to reflect the reduced notification timeframe and ensure that educators, staff and volunteers are aware of and understand their obligations and reporting requirements.
Service environments must be free from vaping substances and vaping devices (r82):
The changes to r82 from September 1st, 2025, will mean that approved providers must ensure that service environments are free from the use of vaping substances and vaping devices, in addition to service environments that are free from the use of tobacco, illicit drugs and alcohol.
Management should consider what strategies will be implemented to ensure a child safe environment that is free of vaping substances and devices. Services should ensure that these updates are reflected in any relevant policies and resources i.e., Providing a Child Safe Environment Policy and Educator Handbook.
To assist approved providers and their services prepare for the changes ACECQA has released two new guides:
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- NQF Child Safe Culture Guide – embedding child safe cultures in education and care services.
- NQF Online Safety Guide – embedding child safe online environments in education and care services.
Resources:
NQF Child safety changes- Information sheet
Safe use of digital technologies and online environments- Policy guidelines
eSafety checklist for early learning services
Within System7 go to Quality Area 2/ Modules 16 – 34 to submit self-assessment notes and open a QIP issue for any areas requiring action and improvement.
The Childcare Centre Desktop has a range of resources to assist services with child protection and safety. These include Child Protection Policy (under review), Providing a Child Safe Environment Policy (to be reviewed in November), Safe Use of Digital Technologies and Online Environments Policy, Safe Use of Digital Technologies and Online Environments Procedure, Digital Technologies and Online Environments Risk Assessment, Media Authorisation (for children), Media Authorisation (for staff), Electronic Devise Register, Data Security Checklist and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA2/-2.1-Safety
National Regulations – 82, 168, 176
System7 Module – QA3/ Modules 16 – 34
If you have any questions, send us a note via the Contact page here!
