In Focus

December 2025

This is evident in the significant improvement in ratings for services previously rated as Working Toward the National Quality Standard (NQS). As of the end of November 2025, 87.8% of all services assessed are rated as Meeting or above.

The WA early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector has also had steady growth of 4% over the last year. To assist with the required regulatory oversight and increased number of assessment and ratings visits for these new services, ECRU has increased its workforce so you might see a few new faces visiting your services.

Next year is lining up to be another busy year for us all with the implementation of the child safety measures into the legislation, and WA moving to applied law, allowing us to be in line with other states and territories when there are legislative changes. We have already seen some services implementing additional safety measures to enhance child safety, and I commend them for their forward thinking.

I hope that you will be able to take a well-earned rest over the festive season, and I wish you all the very best for 2026.

Warm regards,

Natalie Gulberti

Commencement in WA of the proposed

Child Safety amendments

The Victorian Bill to amend the National Law and introduce a range of child safety provisions has now been passed by the Victorian Parliament.  If you would like to read the Bill, visit the Victorian Parliament website. Some provisions will commence on 2 January 2026, with the remainder by 27 February 2026.

As is the standard process, the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) will be updating the NQF Guides on their website which will have detailed explanations of the substance and implementation of these amendments.

Jurisdictions are continuing to draft amendments to the National Regulations and prepare for implementation - This includes work on developing Child Safety training, which is expected to be available from the end of February 2026.

Commencement in WA

When the Victorian Bill first commences in Victoria it will have no immediate impact on WA.  WA currently operates under its own ‘corresponding’ WA Law and Regulations, and the Victorian Parliament has no authority to amend WA’s legislation.

The Application Bill currently before WA Parliament is seeking to ‘apply’ the National Law in WA.  Once this occurs, WA's existing Law and Regulations will be revoked and replaced with the National Law and National Regulations. 

However, the Application Bill has not yet passed yet, leaving WA in a transitional period. So, the date of commencement date for the proposed Child Safety amendments in WA - covering the relevant parts of the Victorian National Law Bill and the forthcoming National Regulations amendments) - depends on when the WA Application Bill is passed.

At this time, we do not anticipate the National Law and Regulations amendments having effect in WA before 1 April 2026 at the earliest.  We will keep you informed of any changes as soon as we have more information.

More compliance information for families

As part of the National Quality Framework (NQF), regulatory authorities monitor and enforce compliance to ensure the safety, health, and wellbeing of children in education and care services. 

Enforcement actions, along with regulatory activities for each service, are now published on StartingBlocks.gov.au, providing families with transparent information about service quality and safety.

To support decision-making and strengthen awareness of our regulatory system, families will be able to access this information through service and provider pages on StartingBlocks.gov.au.

What’s new on StartingBlocks.gov.au

Families can now view enforcement actions directly on service and provider pages. The updates include:

• enforcement actions issued to services and providers by state and territory regulators, over the past two years
• new resources to help families understand the types of enforcement actions displayed
• a link to the Australian Government Department of Education’s CCS enforcement actions register.

ACECQA has developed an information sheet to help educators explain the NQF compliance monitoring activities to families.

The Helping services communicate with families on enforcement actions information sheet explains the six types of enforcement actions displayed on StartingBlocks.gov.au for families.

Types of enforcement actions

There are six types of enforcement actions that are now published on StartingBlocks.gov.au: 

• Conditions on provider or service approval
• Amendment of provider or service approval
• Suspension of provider or service approval
• Compliance notices
• Emergency action notices
• Enforceable undertakings

Learn more about Child safety and compliance in children's education and care services.

Key messages/FAQs

Increase confidence for educators to explain the regulatory system and compliance actions to families:

1. What are enforcement actions?

Regulatory authorities take enforcement actions to help keep children safe and ensure high quality education and care.

2. Why do regulatory authorities take enforcement actions?

• Regulatory authorities take enforcement action to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of children, including when a provider or service is not complying with the National Law.
• Regulatory authorities consider how serious the issue is, and if it is assessed as posing a serious risk to children, stronger enforcement actions may be taken. These can include prohibiting someone from working at a service, taking legal action, or cancelling a provider or service approval to operate.

3. How do I explain enforcement actions to families?

• Use the new ACECQA information sheet is available to support your teams with important conversations with families: Helping services communicate with families on enforcement actions. This resource provides the ECEC workforce with the tools to talk to families about enforcement actions issued to services.
• Your approved provider may also be able to support families with further information and guide them through the resources on StartingBlocks.gov.au.
• It is important to note that some details may be confidential and not available for discussion but reassure families that enforcement actions are taken to protect children and improve service quality.

4. What are the different types of enforcement actions published on StartingBlocks.gov.au?

There are six types of enforcement actions that are now published on StartingBlocks.gov.au.

• Conditions being placed on a service or provider approval which require the service or provider to undertake specific actions to be compliant.
• Amendment of provider or service approval by a regulatory authority. For example, the service may be required to operate with a reduced number of children attending until issues are addressed.
• Compliance notices which include formal instructions for a service to rectify compliance issues.
• Emergency action notices which require immediate steps to be taken by the provider to address serious risks at a service.
• Enforceable undertakings which are legally binding agreements between a regulatory authority and an individual that sets out what that individual will do or refrain from doing to comply with National Law and Regulations.
• Suspension of provider or service approval: In extreme cases, the provider or service may temporarily lose their approval to operate.

5. What do enforcement actions mean, and how long do they last?

• From 2025, service and provider pages on StartingBlocks.gov.au may show some types of enforcement actions taken by your regulatory authority in the past two years.
• Families might ask you what these enforcement actions mean, how long they last, or why they have been issued by the regulatory authority. Educators can help by explaining some of the terms and encouraging them to ask your service director for more details.
• It’s also helpful to let families know that enforcement actions depend on how serious the issue was, the risk it posed to children, and the compliance history of the provider and service.

6. My service has been transferred to a new provider, will the enforcement actions from the previous provide display on my page?

• If a service has transferred to a new provider, the listing will show the heading ‘Issued before current provider began operating this service’ followed by a list of enforcement actions and the date issued.

Understanding the new mandatory standards for infant sleep products in Australia

To learn more, you can access further information from:

• Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) Risks in sleep and rest, and new mandatory infant product standards
• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Infant sleep products mandatory standards

Portable Pools

Portable and inflatable pools may seem harmless, but they pose the same drowning risks as in ground pools. Always remember to:

• Supervise - stay within arm’s reach. Aquatic toys do not replace the need for active adult supervision.
• Act - learn CPR and be emergency ready.
• Fence - pools deeper than 30cm.
• Empty - and store safely.

Christmas toys

Ensure that you are purchasing age-appropriate toys and stay clear of gifts containing button batteries. Buying online may be a cheaper option, however make sure that the products meet the mark for safety.

 Trampolines

Trampolines are great for exercise and fun – but only when used safely.

• Always supervise children while they’re jumping.
• Allow only one child on the trampoline at a time.
• Ensure safety padding is in place over springs and the frame.
• Keep the trampoline in good condition and clear of hazards like fences, trees or hard surfaces.

For more information, head to the Consumer Protection website for safety advice and check Product Safety Australia for the latest updates on product recalls and standards.

Get more of those PECE-ful feelings

“Being a part of the PECE (Positive Early Childhood Education) research project was a good opportunity as educators to reflect on what we’re doing well, and bring to the forefront of mind the strategies and skills we use in our everyday teaching… We were able to identify and discuss ways we can further support parents.”

- Andrea Cowcher, KindiLink, WA

Attracting staff to your early learning service is only half the story – supporting them so they don’t burn out is just as important. The shift from job fulfilment to disenchantment can be subtle and complex, but often stems from more than just wages or flexibility. Feeling valued, supported, and empowered to understand more about the actions of young children, can make all the difference.

The Positive Early Childhood Education (PECE) Program is a paid professional learning program aligned with the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program®. The PECE Program builds educators’ confidence and skills in guiding and responding to children’s behaviour, in ways that help children develop their capacity to self-regulate emotions and behaviour, which is a critical skill for success in life. The low-cost program also gives educators themselves a better understanding of their own emotions.

As a result, research in Australia and overseas shows that the program helps promote children’s social competence, self-control, and wellbeing, and also enhances educator/child relationships and communication with colleagues and parents. There can also be a significant reduction in the kind of child behaviour educators find difficult.

PECE can be implemented in three ways, depending on what best suits your centre.

1. Educators can independently complete the 4-module online PECE program. This a cost-effective approach for rapidly upskilling educators and building a shared understanding of children’s development and behaviour. Educators can complete the program any time, any place, and when finished (about 4 hours), receive a certificate.
2. PECE Coaching is available for Educational Leaders to support educators' work through PECE Online and apply the skills and strategies in everyday interactions with children.

3. For a community approach, ECEC services can support families by actively encouraging parents to complete Triple P’s free online programs. This allows educators and parents to talk the same talk and use consistent approaches to guide and support children’s behaviour and development.

Please note: Triple P’s full online parenting support programs mentioned above are free for parents and carers under the Australian Government’s Parenting Education and Support Program (PESP). Whether handling difficult behaviour, adjusting to first-time parenting, being concerned about anxiety or dealing with changes, there’s a free online program to fit, available 24/7).

For more information about PECE, visit www.peceprogram.net or email contact@triplep.net. For details about access to Triple P’s free online parenting programs, e-mail connect@triplep.net or visit www.triplep-parenting.net.au  

Gastroenteritis alert

The Western Australia Department of Health is warning parents and caregivers to be aware of gastroenteritis and reminding childcare services to contact their local Public Health Unit when gastroenteritis outbreaks occur.

The warning follows a sustained increase in gastroenteritis outbreaks at childcare centres in Western Australia, with most outbreaks occurring in metropolitan Perth. These gastroenteritis outbreaks are likely due to norovirus, which is highly infectious and usually spreads from person-to-person.

Norovirus infections are most common during the warmer months. Other infections that can cause gastroenteritis in young children include rotavirus and cryptosporidiosis which are also largely spread from person-to-person.

To limit the spread of gastroenteritis children and staff with diarrhoea and/or vomiting should stay at home until 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped. Routine handwashing is also effective in helping stop the spread of infections.

When there is a gastroenteritis outbreak in your service it is recommended to:

• Display a notice at the front desk advising parents and staff about the outbreak and the exclusion requirements for ill children/staff.
• Advise parents and staff that anyone with diarrhoea and/or vomiting should not attend childcare until 48 hours after these symptoms have stopped.
• Provide information to parents and staff about gastroenteritis.
• Advise children and staff with diarrhoea to avoid swimming pools until two weeks after the diarrhoea has stopped completely.
• Increase handwashing and ensure there is sufficient soap in toilet areas.
• Alcohol-based hand rubs are not as effective as soap and water in killing viruses that cause gastroenteritis. However, if hand-washing facilities are not available use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Increase cleaning and disinfection practices and ensure that cleaning and disinfection protocols are up to date.
• Separate ill children from others until a parent can collect their ill child.

Please share the information and resources below with staff and the families attending your service.

• Advice on gastroenteritis in childcare centres and schools
• Staying healthy guidelines | NHMRC

Why understanding sensory processing is foundational in early childhood

As we move into the Christmas season, early childhood settings often become even busier — with end-of-year celebrations, changes in routine, sensory-rich environments, and big emotional energy for children (and adults!). It’s a wonderful time of connection, but it can also highlight just how differently children experience and process the world around them. This makes it the perfect moment to revisit the importance of understanding sensory processing in early childhood.

In early childhood, behaviour is communication — and often, that communication is sensory in nature. When a child is constantly on the move, avoids messy play, becomes overwhelmed in noisy environments, or struggles with transitions, these responses often reflect individual sensory needs rather than behavioural “problems” or developmental concerns. Recognising this helps us shift from managing behaviour to meeting needs — a key step toward neuroaffirming practice.

Occupational therapist Dr. Winnie Dunn’s Sensory Processing Framework offers a powerful lens through which to understand these patterns. She describes four broad sensory processing profiles, each representing a valid and natural way of interacting with the world:

1. Seekers often need more sensory input (movement, touch, sound) to feel regulated and engaged.
2. Avoiders benefit from predictable environments and reduced exposure to overwhelming sensory input.
3. Sensitive children notice subtle changes in their environment and may react more quickly to unexpected stimuli.
4. Low registrators may miss cues others respond to because their nervous system processes sensory information more slowly or quietly.

These profiles aren’t deficits — they’re the individual variations in how the nervous system works. In fact, many behaviours we notice in children aren’t “behaviour,” they’re actually their sensory solutions — adaptive ways their bodies and brains have developed to meet their sensory needs and maintain regulation. When we understand these preferences as part of a child’s unique neurotype, we begin to support them with greater respect and effectiveness.

The Pyramid of Learning helps visualise this: at its base lie the sensory systems — tactile, vestibular, proprioceptive, and more — which form the foundation for attention, emotional regulation, communication, and academic learning. If the sensory foundation is shaky, regulation is shaky, so it’s no surprise children may struggle with participation. A sensitive child might be too overwhelmed to engage in group time. A seeker may need movement before sitting at the table. A low registrator may appear disengaged not because they’re uninterested, but because they need increased sensory cues to orient themselves to the activity.

When we understand sensory processing, we’re better equipped to support co-regulation — the calm, responsive presence of a trusted adult — to help children feel safe, supported, and understood. This is the foundation for autonomy, confidence, self-advocacy, and long-term wellbeing.

What’s Coming in 2026

We’ll soon be releasing our Neurominded 2026 Professional Learning Calendar, which will include another dedicated session on Sensory Processing & Neuroaffirming Support.

Keep an eye on our socials and website for dates, registrations, and early-bird updates.  Neurominded - Let’s continue nurturing every child’s sensory story — from the bottom up.