Published Today at 10:15 AM

Minister for Education and the Arts
The Honourable John-Paul Langbroek

National mandatory child safety training for early childhood care and education services starts tomorrow

  • Queensland introduces nation-leading mandatory child safety training for childhood care and education services, with staff to complete training within six months.
  • The Crisafulli Government has invested $1.85 million for the development of mandatory training to be rolled out across all services in Australia.
  • The Crisafulli Government is delivering safety for young Queenslanders after a decade of decline under Labor. 
  • The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland’s future. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland’s future with a nation-leading mandatory child safety training plan, which comes into effect across the country tomorrow. 
 
The nationally consistent child safety training will be mandatory under National Law for anyone working or volunteering in early childhood education and care, whether they work directly with children or not. 
 
The training has been shaped by the insights and experiences of individuals with lived experience of child abuse and neglect, as well as early childhood experts.   

It’s just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering safety for young Queenslanders after a decade of decline under Labor. 

Everyone working in early childhood settings will be required to complete the training, which is being rolled out on the Australian Government’s Geccko learning platform.  

Staff will have six months to complete the training, with advanced courses becoming available this July. 

Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek said the Crisafulli Government was proud to have led this important work on behalf of the nation. 
 
“The Crisafulli Government has invested $1.85 million to develop the training with leading experts from the Australian Centre for Child Protection,” Minister Langbroek said.   

“Safety in early childhood education and care settings is everyone’s business. 
 
“We want everyone who is working in early childhood to know how to identify grooming behaviours, maintaining child-safe cultures and have the confidence to report if they have concerns.  
 
“After a decade of decline under the former Labor Government, the Crisafulli Government has a plan to protect our children and keep them safe. 
 
“We all have a role to play to keep our children safe and the Crisafulli Government has unashamedly taken charge to ensure all staff undertake this crucial new training. 

“I am proud that Queensland is leading this important child safety reform and it’s going to be one of the most critical investments we can make in our future.” 

Professor Leah Bromfield, Director of Australian Centre for Child Protection thanked the Crisafulli Government for their leadership on this critical national initiative. 
 
“Building a genuinely child safe culture across the education and care sector is not optional, it is a shared responsibility,” Professor Bromfield said. 
 
“Every board member, executive leader, educator, and carer has a role to play in ensuring children are safe, respected, and heard. 

“High quality, free and accessible training is critical to building a nationally consistent child safe culture in the education and care sector. 

“The Australian Centre for Child Protection is proud to have had a role in bringing these best practice courses to the sector, drawing from research, cultural knowledge, front line expertise and insights from survivors of child abuse.” 

C&K Chief Executive Officer Dr Sandra Cheeseman said the new mandatory training would strengthen capability in safeguarding practices across the early childhood education and care sector. 

“Children’s safety is our highest priority at C&K, and we strongly support a consistent, high-quality approach to safeguarding training for all educators,” Dr Cheeseman said. 

“This is about giving educators the tools to protect children and create environments where they can learn, grow and thrive.” 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Thomson, 0447 221 816 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

  • Training must be completed by everyone working or volunteering in the ECEC sector, regardless of whether they work directly with children, including:
    • Persons with management or control of a service.
    • Nominated supervisors of a service.
    • Persons in day-to-day charge of a service.
    • Staff members of a service, including family day care educators.
    • Volunteers, including students.  

  • Mandated under the Education and Care Services National Law (Section 162B)  

  • Training is free and available through Australian Government’s Geccko platform anytime anywhere to accommodate the diverse needs of ECEC workforce. 

  • Foundation level courses will be released on 27 February 2026, and the advanced level courses will be available in July 2026. 

  • Foundation level training must be completed within 6-months from 27 February.  

  • Once the advanced level training is released, everyone will have 6 months to complete the advanced training. 

  • Training focusses on building a child safe culture; understanding child safety and wellbeing; the rights of children; identifying signs of child abuse and neglect; harmful sexual behaviours; professional boundaries and grooming; what to do if a person has concerns.  

  • Penalties will apply for approved providers who fail to ensure staff and volunteers complete the training.