NSW''s early childhood education and care sector is under pressure to implement an unprecedented number of changes in recent memory:

• the NSW Ministerial Guidelines and NSW Ministerial Direction since 6 November 2025;
• increased compliance checks by the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian;
• the implementation of the National Educator Register;
• the NSW-specific changes to the National Law;
• legislative and regulatory amendments commencing 27 February 2026;
• the Mandatory Child Safety Training commencing 27 February 2026;
• the changes to the Children’s Services Award arising from the Gender-Based Undervaluation decision effective 1 March 2026;
• ongoing regulatory oversight, including increased spotcheck activity; and
• unannounced Child Care Subsidy (CCS) compliance audits. 

Such reforms and compliance activities are of course important in strengthening quality, integrity, workforce recognition and public confidence in the early childhood education and care sector.

That said, such changes can only be successful if the sector not only has the capacity to do so but also implements them effectively.

The convergence of all these changes within a compressed timeframe has placed the entire sector under immense operational and administrative pressure. Service leaders are reporting heightened stress, resource strain and concern about the risk of inadvertent non-compliance simply due to volume and complexity.

As such, ACA NSW has conveyed our members' concerns to the NSW Deputy Premier as the NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning, the NSW Department of Education, the NSW Early Learning Commission as well as the NSW Children's Guardian.

ACA NSW has also requested their consideration of the sector's capacity and the need for a collaborative approach.

For any further information/clarification, members can contact the ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 25 FEBRUARY 2026