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NSW Opposition's Forum seeking ECEC sector input

May 3rd, 2026 Latest News

In anticipation of the NSW State Election to be held on Saturday, 13 March 2027, the NSW Shadow Minister for Early Learning (Felicity Wilson MP) recently conducted a forum at the Parliament of New South Wales with early childhood education and care sector leaders.


Representing ACA NSW members, NSW President Lyn Connolly shared many concerns with the NSW Shadow Minister, including the following:


  • the uniqueness of NSW where the overwhelming majority (about 73%) of services are small-medium sized and privately operated (not corporatised);

  • the importance of the NSW Regulatory Authority's officers to tangibly assist Approved Providers and services to achieve better children's outcomes rather than the narrowness of focus on compliance;

  • the loss of credibility and reliability of the Assessment and Ratings process especially when exposed that 66% of Exceeding rated services were also regarded as High Risk or Very High Risk by the same regulator;

  • the need for overt children's outcomes (eg developmental records) to demonstrate the dividends of early childhood education and care;

  • concerns about the sizes of services and the potential for NSW to reintroduce a cap on the number of places for future new services;

  • proof (from the ACCC) that oversupply has always been pushing up the cost of fees (by 40% or more) for parents (accelerated also by the NSW State Environmental Planning Policy);

  • the potential role for the NSW Government to complement Inclusion Support funding (eg funding the gap of the hours that the child is in attendance);

  • asking the NSW Coalition on how a future NSW Coalition Government would regulate nannies, grandparents and others who may be receiving the Commonwealth's Child Care Subsidy funding while ensuring children’s health and safety;

  • the deficiencies of the NSW Government's planning system in relation to the approval of new services;

Lyn Connolly reminded the NSW Opposition of ACA NSW's many submissions for available references for positive reforms for children, their families, early childhood educators and teachers, services and Approved Providers.


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


NOTE: Images courtesy of Felicity Wilson MP.


PUBLISHED: 3 MARCH 2026

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