From 1 September 2025, significant updates to the National Quality Framework (NQF) will take effect across Australia. These changes are designed to strengthen child safety in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings, with a particular focus on digital technology use, incident reporting, and vaping bans.
This guide breaks down the key changes, timelines, and practical steps to get your service ready.
The Three Key Regulation Changes
1. Digital Technology & Online Safety – New Policy Requirements (Reg 168)
Services will be required to have written policies and procedures for the safe use of digital technologies and online environments. Your policies must now address:
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How images and videos of children are taken, stored, used, and destroyed
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How and when parental authorisation is obtained for images/videos
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The use of CCTV and other optical surveillance devices
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The use of service-issued digital devices
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The use of personal digital devices by children
These additions aim to ensure technology use is safe, respectful, and transparent.
2. Faster Reporting for Abuse Allegations (Reg 176)
The time frame for notifying the regulatory authority of allegations or incidents of physical or sexual abuse will be reduced from seven days to just 24 hours.
This means your service will need:
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Clear internal reporting procedures
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Staff training on recognising and escalating concerns immediately
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Systems in place to meet the 24-hour deadline
3. Vaping Ban in Early Childhood Services (Reg 82)
From September, vaping devices and substances will be completely prohibited within early childhood settings. This mirrors existing smoking bans and aims to maintain a safe, healthy environment for children, staff, and families.
What’s Coming Next – January 2026 Changes
From 1 January 2026, child safety will be explicitly embedded into the National Quality Standard (NQS), specifically in:
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Quality Area 2 – Children’s health and safety
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Quality Area 7 – Governance and leadership
This means child safety will not just be assumed—it will be assessed directly during your next Assessment and Rating.
How to Prepare Now
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Update Your Policies
Review your service policies and add the required elements for digital technology, surveillance, and device use. -
Review Consent Processes
Ensure your parental authorisation forms meet the new requirements. -
Train Your Team
Provide professional development on the new 24-hour reporting rule and digital safety practices. -
Audit Your Environment
Remove all vaping devices and ensure your service remains completely vape-free. -
Engage with ACECQA’s Guides
Use the new NQF Child Safe Culture Guide and NQF Online Safety Guide to embed best practices.
Final Thoughts
These changes are about more than compliance—they’re about strengthening the trust families place in your service and ensuring children’s safety in every interaction. By preparing early, you’ll not only meet the 1 September deadline but also set your service up for success when the 2026 NQS changes come into effect.
Your Butler Diaries are not impacted by the upcoming changes and can support you by capturing your meeting minutes and critical reflections as your service gets ready for the changes.
