Contributions to the Independent Review of the NSW Regulatory Authority

ACA NSW is grateful to its members for their contributions to the Independent Review of the NSW Regulatory Authority.

Members' concerns were conveyed both verbally and in writing to Mr Chris Wheeler who was appointed by the NSW Deputy Premier and NSW Minister for Education & Early Learning (the Hon Prue Car MP) to conduct the Independent Review. 

This Independent Review was announced on 25 February 2025 during NSW Parliament's Budget Estimates about the unbelievable breaches that NSW early childhood education and care services were being recorded as having.

That NSW Parliament's Budget Estimates' full video and transcript are available.

ACA NSW's contributions to this Independent Review are grouped as follows:

1. the unknown and inaccessible ACECQA's Drift Reports on the NSW Authorised Officers;

2. the unbelievable record number of breaches/non-compliances (especially when the overwhelming majority are rated Meeting or higher);

3. the non-legal/regulatory breaches for not following services' own documented policies/procedures;

4. the lack of full visibility of breaches/non-compliances for Approved Providers;

5. the apparent disconnection between Quality Ratings and breaches/non-compliances (especially on child safety);

6. the appearance of a skew towards downgrading services' quality ratings in NSW;

7. the delays in assessment and ratings for (some) services with Quality Area 2 - Chiuldren's Health & Safety as not Meeting the National Quality Standards;

8. the sector's objection to 5-day A&Rs and partial A&Rs;

9. the absence of overt systemically superior outcomes for children due to the higher number of ECTs;

10. none of the "low hanging" issues fixed;

11. the post Operation Tenterfield disconnections; and

12. poor sector connectivity.

Please note that this Independent Review is separate to the NSW Parliament's Inquiry into the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector in New South Wales. Submissions are due by 15 June 2025.

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

PUBLISHED: 30 MAY 2025