Strengthening Our Commitment to Child Safety at SchoolsOUT

At SchoolsOUT, child safety is not just a policy requirement, it is a core value that underpins every interactions, decisions, and environment that we create. As legislation continues to evolve across Victoria, NSW, and Australia as a whole, we are committed to not only meeting requirements, but leading with best practice.

From late 2025, and early 2026, important updates to the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations will come into effect across Australia, alongside additional reforms specific to Victoria.

These nationally agreed reforms aim to strengthen the safety, quality, and accountability of early childhood education and care services, including OSHC. The overall goal is SIMPLE: ensure children are better protected, and families can feel confident that services are meeting the highest standards of professionalism and care.

What has changed in the Legislation?

• Making child safety the paramount consideration in all decision making

• Strengthening child protection training requirements

• Introducing mandatory national child safety training for staff, volunteers and management

• Restricting digital device use in services to improve online safety

• Expanding the powers of the Regulatory Authority to investigate and respond to misconduct

• Increasing penalties and fines for non-compliance

• Strengthening Working With Children's Check requirements

• Establishing a National Early Childhood Worker Register

• Improving transparency around compliance history and enforcement actions

What does this mean for SchoolsOUT Services?

For all of our SchoolsOUT services, these changes reinforce what is already best practice.

SchoolsOUT! is expected to:

• Educate staff and volunteers about the new requirements - being completed through in-house training sessions

• Review policies and procedures to ensure compliance

• Maintain clear documentation and reporting processes

• Continue embedding child safety into everyday practice

What This Means for Families:

These reforms are designed to:

• Provide stronger safeguards for children

• Increase accountability across the sector

• Improve transparency

• Build greater trust and confidence in early childhood services

At SchoolsOUT! we welcome these changes as an opportunity to further strengthen our systems, training and leadership practices. Ensuring that child safety remains at the centre of everything that we do.