In Focus

July 2025

Regulatory Spotlight

Updated Compliance Monitoring Checklists

Commencing 1 July 2025, authorised officers will begin using revised compliance monitoring checklists during unannounced visits for centre-based services.

Revised checklists for family day care will come into effect from 1 August 2025. Regulatory priorities for ECRU continue to focus on child safety and wellbeing due to ongoing, increased non-compliance in the areas of supervision, harm and hazard and interactions with children.

The revised checklists include allocated time for authorised officers to observe practice across the service.

Copies of the revised checklists and documents list will be made available on the ECRU website for services to access and use as a self-auditing tool or to simply review to know what to expect at a compliance monitoring visit.

Risk assessment example template - Excursions

New risk assessment example templates developed by the Western Australian Regulatory Authority

The Education and Care Regulatory Unit (the Regulatory Authority) are developing new risk assessment example templates to help approved providers meet their obligations when completing risk assessments.

Following targeted compliance monitoring of risk assessments, the Regulatory Authority have identified the need for sector support to assist providers and service staff to understand and comply with regulatory obligations.

The example templates will also provide examples of content inclusions to ensure risk assessments are comprehensive, service specific documents with a fundamental objective – to reduce and/or eliminate risk to children.

This month we highlight Regulation 101. Conduct of risk assessment for excursion. Approved providers, nominated supervisors and family day care educators must ensure a risk assessment is carried out before children are taken outside the service premises on an excursion.

The example template should be used as an opportunity to critically reflect on, and where required improve current risk assessment documents, processes and practices.

To access the Risk Assessment example template for Excursions, see the ECRU website resources.

ECRU will release more risk assessment templates over the coming months via the In Focus and ECRU website.

Universal Inclusive Practice

Article provided by Gee van der Watt – Owner and Principal Consultant

Following our recent webinars on neurodiversity and universal inclusive practices, we’re continuing the conversation with a closer look at visual supports - a practical, powerful way to support understanding, independence, and belonging.

To further build on this article, the team at Neurominded will also host a webinar: The Power of Visual Supports in ECEC exploring how a shared visual language helps create environments where all children can thrive. You can register at Humanitix.

Seeing to Understand: The Power of Visual Supports

In early learning environments, one of our biggest challenges (and greatest opportunities) is figuring out how to connect with every child in our care. With children’s diverse development, communication styles, and ways of processing the world it’s not always easy. But there’s a powerful, inclusive tool that can help: visual supports

Visual supports

Many educators are familiar with visual aids like picture schedules, flash cards, social stories, or communication boards – often introduced to support children with additional needs. But these strategies don’t just benefit a few. When we use visible elements as part of our everyday practice, they support everyone, including educators. Think about it… We all rely on visual cues: street signs, calendars, flowcharts, colour-coding – even emojis and memes! Visuals make it easier to communicate, stay organised, and make sense of the world. The same is true for children.

Why Visual Supports Work

Visual supports reduce the load on memory and processing. They make expectations clearer, transitions smoother, and choices more concrete. For young children developing language – or those navigating a second language or speech delay – visual cues can bridge the gap when words aren’t enough.

More importantly, visuals increase independence. Instead of relying on adults for constant verbal reminders or help, children can follow a schedule, find materials, make choices, or understand what’s happening next, on their own.

Rethinking Visuals: Not Just for 'Some' Kids

Using a puppet to introduce a story, a visual sequence to support self-care routines, or pictures to label learning areas aren’t just helpful for toddlers or diverse learners. These supports help all children understand, engage, and feel safe.

By embedding visuals into the natural flow of your day, you're creating a more inclusive, predictable, and empowering environment for every child. These can be as simple as:

Using pictures or icons to display the daily routine, and other step-by-step procedures.
Supporting pack-up with colour-coded tubs or visual labels on shelves and materials
Providing choice boards or visual ‘menus’ to help children make choices independently.
Pairing verbal instructions with visual cues like gestures, Key Word Sign, or items to reinforce your words.
Using visual tools like sand timers, “my turn” cards, or “first/next” boards to support abstract concepts like sharing, waiting, and transitioning.

Make It Meaningful

The most effective visuals are the ones that fit your space and your children. In our webinar, we explore ways to create supports that are relevant, developmentally appropriate, and genuinely useful in your setting. Think beyond laminated cards – sometimes the most powerful visuals are the ones you already have: a real object, a photograph, a gesture, or a change in lighting.

Start Small, Think Big

Embedding visual language into your daily practice doesn’t mean overhauling everything overnight. Start with one routine or space, observe what works, and build from there. Consistency and collaboration with your team will help make it stick.

When visual supports are used with intention and creativity, they don’t just help children understand what’s happening – they help them feel capable, confident, and connected. That’s a win for everyone.

The new and improved Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) website includes an enhanced search function, making the data and resources easier to find and use. Publicly available AEDC results can be accessed through the Community Data Explorer.

Download the AEDC National Report 2024 and the AEDC Key Findings 2024 fact sheet from the new AEDC website. 

The new AEDC website

The new AEDC website is a significant resource for government services, communities, researchers and educators working to improve developmental outcomes for children.

Data and resources from the AEDC website can be used for planning and monitoring children’s development. Here, you'll discover:

For more information visit www.aedc.gov.au.

Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) – National Voice for our Children is the national peak body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is held every year on 4 August. This celebration is an opportunity for all Australians to show their support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and learn about the vital role that culture, family, and community play in their lives.

This year’s theme, ‘Little Footsteps, Big Future’ honours the journeys Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children take as they grow—each step guided by culture, community and connection to Country.

Each year, hundreds of early years services, education centres, sporting clubs, organisations, and communities across Australia host Children’s Day events to celebrate the strength, resilience and potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. SNAICC invites everyone to join in recognising the importance of nurturing children’s voices and dreams —coming together to support a future where every child walks strong in their identity and is empowered to shape their own path.

SNAICC works with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children by providing access to cultural resources and literature.

The 2025 Children’s Day book, ‘I Saw We Saw’ was written and illustrated by Yolŋu students from Nhulunbuy Primary School through the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s Community Publishing Program. The picture book is included in the SNAICC Children’s Day bags (available by order on the SNAICC website) and on the Indigenous Literacy Foundation website.

Stay up to date with releases for 2025 Children’s Day bags and resources on the SNAICC website, where you can also find ideas for celebrations and register your event.

From 28 July to 3 August 2025, communities across Australia are encouraged to take part in Early Learning Matters Week—a time to recognise the important role early childhood education plays in children’s lives and in our communities.

This national event brings together families, educators, carers, and community members to highlight

the value of early learning and recognise the early childhood professionals who support young children every day. It’s a chance to talk about why the early years matter and how they help shape children’s futures.

The week focuses on how early learning helps build strong foundations for children’s development, confidence, and lifelong learning. Children are developing and practising a wide range of skills as they play and explore the world around them.

Everyone is encouraged to get involved by sharing stories, hosting activities, or simply starting conversations about the importance of early learning.

Early Childhood Australia reminds us that while the week offers a moment to pause and celebrate, early learning matters every day. Visit the Early Learning Matters Week website to register or search for events, access resources, and learn more about the week-long celebrations.

Food Safety Supervisor training

Children's education and care providers such as early childhood education and care (ECEC) and out of school hours care (OSHC) have a responsibility to keep food safe, and correct food safety practices are crucial to this. Appointing a Food Safety Supervisor is a requirement for all food businesses, including early years settings. Foodcore have customised Food Safety Supervisor Training that can be completed in one day with no further assessments required for the face-to-face session and a minor assessment for the virtual delivery.

Foodcore Nutrition Services delivers this training on behalf of NAQ Nutrition Training who is an approved Registered Training Organisation (RTO 110074)

All about Allergens training

Managing food allergies is one of the biggest challenges in children's education and care settings. Foodcore together with the National Allergy Council have developed face to face and virtual training for OSHC where you will learn about food allergen management and how to develop best practice procedures in your setting to provide safe food to children in your care. This training comes with a workbook, tools and resources and is for staff who:

Make decisions about suitable menu items
Plan menus, choose recipes, choose suppliers and place orders
Make and serve food to children
Are likely to be asked about ingredients or allergens in foods from staff or parents of children with food allergy.

Information about the dates and fees for both training course are available on the Foodcore website, simply choose the most appropriate setting, either OSHC or ECEC’s. Foodcore looks forward to working with you to create a safe food environment for children in your care.

Understanding the NDIS

Join us for an informative webinar designed to help early educators better understand the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Presentation: Our speaker from the Community Engagement and Inclusion team will provide an overview including:

Eligibility and access to the NDIS
NDIS and Education
Early Connections and Community Connections
Remote Community Connectors and Local Community Connectors (rural and remote)

Following the presentation, you will have an opportunity to ask our speaker questions.

This session is offered over three dates to allow flexibility for attendees. Each session will cover the same content – the presentation with all links will be sent out after the session.

Who should attend: Staff, educators, and approved providers from the Education and Care sector.

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Where: Three sessions will be delivered via videoconference using Microsoft Teams.

Session 1 - Join Thursday, 10:00am 10th July
Session 2 - Join Thursday, 2:00pm 17th July
Session 3 - Join Tuesday, 6:00pm 22nd July

Please feel free to share this information

Upcoming Next Assessment and Advice (NASA) webinar

NASA webinars provide guidance and clarity to services about the Assessment and Rating process including:

What to expect during an Assessment and Rating visit by the Regulatory Authority.
What to consider when self-assessing your service.
How to develop your quality improvement plan (QIP).

Family Day Care NASA webinar - Wednesday 9 July 2025 at 6:00pm

Register on Eventbrite

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