More information for parents on their children’s child care centres

The Albanese Government is providing more information for parents on child care centres to help improve quality and safety in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector.

From today, the Starting Blocks website, which provides information on child care services, will be upgraded to include:

•    when a state or territory regulator last visited a service, 
•    conditions placed on a provider or service by the state or territory regulator, and
•    clearer information on the links between services and the providers that run them.

Upgrading the Starting Blocks website is one of several targeted safety measures announced just over a week ago by Education Ministers, including:

•    A national educator register,
•    Mandatory national child safety training for ECEC workers,
•    A national trial of CCTV in up to 300 services,
•    A ban on the use of personal mobile phones in centres,
•    More unannounced spot checks,
•    Tripling of penalties under the National Law and National Regulations,
•    A rapid assessment by ACECQA of child supervision practices, and
•    More regular assessment and rating visits.

By making quality and safety information accessible, families can make better informed decisions about the service they send their children to.

The Government will continue improving the information available for parents.

From November 2025, Starting Blocks will begin publishing details of compliance breaches and enforcement actions.

Centres themselves will also be required to physically display meaningful information, including in other languages where appropriate, on compliance and enforcement breaches. Work has begun to determine what information, as well as what legislative changes will be required to implement this.

The Government also continues to take action under recent legislation that allows for the cutting of funding to centres that are failing to meet quality and safety standards. More information on that action is available on the Department of Education Enforcement Register.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Giving more information to parents is an important step to rebuild their confidence in a system they need to have confidence in.

“This is about parents having the facts they need so they can make the best decisions for their children.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth Senator Dr Jess Walsh:

“Parents have a right to know what’s going on in their child’s early learning centre.

“Greater transparency and accountability will also drive higher standards for our children.

“The Commonwealth is working shoulder to shoulder with the states and territories to implement this significant package of reforms.”