NSW and Victoria partner to conduct early learning compliance blitz
NSW Early Learning Commission and Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
In a nation-leading first, the NSW Early Learning Commission and the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) have joined together to conduct a comprehensive two-day child safety compliance blitz, visiting more than 500 early learning services and outside school hours care services across both states.
On Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 May more than 200 officers conducted unannounced visits in NSW and Victoria, with a focus on new child safety reforms including the National Early Childhood Worker Register.
Officers checked whether approved providers had successfully implemented the mandatory National Early Childhood Worker Register, a new platform developed to ensure more visibility of people working in the sector.
The Register makes it easier for regulators to know where workers are, identify and respond to risks, and share information between states, territories and to other regulators.
Under new legislation, approved providers were required to enter the details of their current workforce into this new register by March 27 and, going forward, enter new employees’ details within 14 days.
The service visits also focused on education, with officers taking the opportunity to speak with approved providers and services about child-safe recruitment and employment practices.
We expect to share the findings of the campaign, including information about compliance actions taken as a result of what officers observed during the visits, in the coming weeks.
Since the beginning of the year NSW has conducted 3190 visits and Victoria has conducted over 1540 visits, with more than half of those unannounced.
Unannounced inspections help to ensure high safety and quality standards are maintained to help children thrive in early learning.
Please attribute to NSW Early Learning Commissioner, Daryl Currie:
“We’ve welcomed the opportunity to work with our Victorian counterparts to strengthen oversight of the sector and focus on what matters most - keeping children safe.
“NSW and Victoria have led the way nationally in the implementation of these reforms, and we’re proud to say that we’re in centres everyday paying close attention to how we can work together to protect young children.
“Child safety is a shared responsibility and strong collaboration between regulators, agencies, providers, services and families is essential to getting it right.”
Please attribute to VECRA Interim Regulator, Adam Fennessy PSM:
“The National Early Childhood Worker Register is a critical tool that enables regulators across Australia to know where and when people are working in early childhood services, and to enable swift action to prevent harm to children.
“Parents have every right to expect that all of Victoria’s early childhood services are providing safe and quality education and care, including complying with the new child safety laws.
“Our authorised officers play a critical role in supporting and monitoring high quality and safe care. They will be putting providers on notice if they don’t meet their key obligations.”
Contact details:
MEDIA: NSW Early Learning Commission – Kate Hancock 0499 843 397 | [email protected]
VECRA – Katriona Shortal 0461 411 549 | [email protected]