On 2 July 2025, the Victorian Government announced an urgent review into child safety in education and care services in Victoria. The Rapid Child Safety Review was conducted by Jay Weatherhill AO and Pam White PSM.
On 15 August 2025, the Final Report was provided to the Victorian government for its consideration.[1]
On 20 August 2025, the Victorian Government released the Final Report and its response.[2]
On 22 August 2025, there was a special meeting of all Commonwealth, state and territory education ministers to discuss child safety, and in part, the Rapid Child Safety Review completed in Victoria.
As a result of this special meeting, we are now able to provide a summary of the recommendations made by the Rapid Child Safety Review to the Commonwealth government and its initial response to these recommendations.
FOUNDATIONAL REFORMS
Re-think system
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth re-think the education and care services system (Recommendation 2.1).
The Commonwealth government has not provided a specific response to this recommendation.
Early Childhood Reform Commission
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth establish a time-limited Early Childhood Reform Commission to prioritise national education and care services reforms that is informed by a parent advisory group (Recommendation 3).
The Commonwealth government has not provided a specific response to this recommendation.
Stronger powers for ASQA
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth provide stronger powers to the Australian Skills Quality Authority to address poor quality registered training organisations, including those that are also providers of education and care services, so that students are better prepared to work in an education and care services setting (Recommendation 19)
The Commonwealth government has not provided a specific response to this recommendation.
National Early Childhood Worker Register
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth establish a National Early Childhood Worker Register covering all education and care services staff across Australia who have regular contact with children, including casual staff (Recommendation 4.1).
The Commonwealth government has stated that a National Early Childhood Worker Register will be developed by ACECQA. It will be subject to a trial and then be enshrined in legislation. The Register will be developed over time, and will eventually include information about each educator such as:
- their contact details
- where they work
- any current investigations
- any regulatory action taken
- the current status of their Working with Children Clearance.[3]
When: February 2026
CCTV trial
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth implement a national trial of CCTV in education and care services so that they can be used as a regulatory and investigative tool (Recommendation 16).
The Commonwealth government has stated that there will be a national trial of CCTV in up to 300 education and care services across Australia.
It also stated that it will support small and medium providers, and not for profit providers, to install CCTV in their education and care services.[4]
When: trial to commence in October or November 2025
Information for parents
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth improve information for parents about service quality and compliance on the Starting Blocks website including:
- which National Quality Standards and sub-elements are not being met
- service and provider ownership
- compliance history (Recommendation 17.1).
The Commonwealth government stated that there will be more information available for parents on the Starting Blocks website so that they know the conditions imposed on the service, and any enforcement action taken by the regulator.[5]
When: November 2025
Funding
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth reinstate funding for state and territory regulators, and increase the level of funding provided, in recognition of the significant growth of the education and care services sector (Recommendation 13.2).
The Commonwealth government has committed $130 million of extra funding for states and territories. About $20 million is for joint compliance and monitoring.[6]
The Rapid Child Safety Review also recommended that the Commonwealth fund time release for all staff to undertake child safety training (Recommendation 20.2).
There is no information about whether the increased Commonwealth funding will help fund time release for all staff to undertake child safety training.
The Rapid Child Safety Review also recommended that the Commonwealth Fund a Child Care Quality Improvement Program (Recommendation 21.2).
There is no information about whether the increased Commonwealth funding will help fund a Child Care Quality Improvement Program.
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth fund a Child Safe Buildings Grants Program for fixtures and fittings or minor construction works that clear lines of sight in existing education and care services (Recommendation 15).
There is no information about whether the increased Commonwealth funding will help fund a Child Safe Building Grants Program.
Review complex legal structures and arrangements
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth commission the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to investigate ways to address the complex legal structure and arrangements being used in the education and care services sector so that Regulatory Authorities can effectively regulate them under the National law (Recommendation 11.2).
The Commonwealth government has not provided a specific response to this recommendation.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL LAW
Best interests of the child
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth make the safety, rights and best interests of children the paramount consideration for staff, managers, service providers, their owners, funders and board members (Recommendation 1)
The Commonwealth, state and territory governments have all agreed that the rights and best interests of children should be the paramount consideration and should be included in the National Law. [7]
When: unclear
Mandatory child safety training
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth require all people involved in the provision of education and care services, including those who may not directly work with children, to complete mandatory child safety training (Recommendation 20.1)
The Commonwealth government stated that there will be national mandatory child safety training for all workers in education and care services. It will be developed by the Australian Centre for Child Protection and the Commonwealth has committed about $20 million to support this.[8]
When: roll out in 2026
De-register unsuitable individuals
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth de-register individuals based on an assessment of their suitability to work in education and care services (Recommendation 4.2).
The Commonwealth government has not provided a specific response to this recommendation.
Increased supervision of children
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth remove or amend the ‘roofline’ rule (Recommendation 14)
The Commonwealth government has not provided a specific response to this recommendation.
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth tighten rules that permit staff to work in education and care services if they are ‘working towards a qualification’ (Recommendation 14)
The Commonwealth government has not provided a specific response to this recommendation.
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth consider implementing the ‘four eyes’ rule i.e. 2 adults are visible to each other while with children (Recommendation 14).
The Commonwealth government is going to ask ACECQA to consider this proposal.[9]
Increased penalties
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth increase the maximum penalty amounts for offences under the National Law (Recommendation 12)
The Commonwealth government has not provided a specific response to this recommendation.
Continuity of services
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth appoint a trusted, high-quality provider to take over a service that has had its funding and other approvals cancelled, to enable continuity of services for families (Recommendation 2.2).
The Commonwealth government has not provided a specific response to this recommendation.
Display information for parents
The Rapid Child Safety Review recommended that the Commonwealth require education and care services to display the following information on their website and to share this information with parents and prospective parents whenever it changes:
- quality and assessment rating
- any enforcement action taken against them (Recommendation 17.2).
The Commonwealth government has not provided a specific response to this recommendation.
We will continue to keep you informed about all of the initiatives that are being implemented to better protect the safety and wellbeing of children.
In the meantime, if you would like any advice on how you can improve the safety, quality and care that you provide to children and young people, please feel free to contact us for a confidential and obligation free discussion.
Elena Totino
Founder, Director & Principal Lawyer
Safety Quality & Care Legal Services
27 August 2025
[1] State of Victoria, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Weatherill, Jay & White, Pam, Rapid Child Safety Review, 15 August 2025, https://www.vic.gov.au/rapid-child-safety-review (accessed 20 August 2025)
[2] State of Victoria, Victorian Government Response to Rapid Child Safety Review, https://www.vic.gov.au/rapid-child-safety-review (accessed 22 August 2025)
[3] Commonwealth of Australia, The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education & The Hon. Jess Walsh MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Press Conference, Sydney, 22 August 2025, https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/press-conference-sydney-6 (accessed 23 August 2025)
[4] Commonwealth of Australia, The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, Press Conference, Sydney, 22 August 2025, https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/press-conference-sydney-6 (accessed 23 August 2025)
[5] Commonwealth of Australia, The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education & The Hon. Jess Walsh MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Press Conference, Sydney, 22 August 2025, https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/press-conference-sydney-6 (accessed 23 August 2025)
[6] Commonwealth of Australia, The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education, Press Conference, Sydney, 22 August 2025, https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/press-conference-sydney-6 (accessed 23 August 2025)
[7] Commonwealth of Australia, The Hon. Lizzie Blandthorn MP, Victorian Minister for Children, Press Conference, Sydney, 22 August 2025, https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/press-conference-sydney-6 (accessed 23 August 2025)
[8] Commonwealth of Australia, The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education & The Hon. Jess Walsh MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Press Conference, Sydney, 22 August 2025, https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/press-conference-sydney-6 (accessed 23 August 2025)
[9] Commonwealth of Australia, The Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education & The Hon. Jess Walsh MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Press Conference, Sydney, 22 August 2025, https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/press-conference-sydney-6 (accessed 23 August 2025)