6 August 2025

SA personal mobile devices ban in LDC and preschool

The State Government has announced a ban on the use of personal mobile devices in early years services to strengthen safety and better protect young children.

All South Australian long day care and preschool services will be required to implement a policy and procedure, addressing the use of personal devices and ensure this is in line with the National Model Code.

The services will be required to provide assurance and a copy of these documents to the Education Standards Board (ESB) by 26 September 2025.

Services that do not provide policies and procedures or have not complied with these requirements may have conditions imposed.

The National Model Code outlines that only service-issued devices should be used when taking images or videos of children while providing education and care. Personal mobile devices capable of taking images or videos, personal storage, or file transfer media cannot be in possession of any person while they are working directly with children.

Next steps

Approved Providers are encouraged to begin preparing and reviewing their policies in advance of the changes to the Regulation, which come into effect on 1 September 2025.

The ESB will provide further guidance prior to this date, including details on how services can demonstrate compliance. This will involve the submission of an assurance form confirming that relevant policies and procedures are in place. Services will also be required to submit a copy of supporting policies and procedures to ESB.

To ensure compliance, the ESB will conduct spot checks of both policy documents and service implementation.

Please note:

• Failure to have the required policy in place may result in a financial penalty of $1,100.
• Failure to take reasonable steps to ensure that staff follow the required policy may also result in a financial penalty of $1,100.
• Additional conditions may be imposed on services that do not have a policy implemented or comply with the policy requirements.

Changes to the National Quality Framework

As work on the National Child Safety Review continues, the next stage of this work will see important changes to the Education and Care Services National Regulations commence from 1 September 2025. 

These changes include: 

• New policy and procedures required for safe use of digital technologies and online environments.
   
• 24-hour notification for physical/sexual abuse incidents and allegations (down from 7 days).
   
• Use of vaping devices and substances banned in service environments.

New policy and procedures: Safe use of digital technologies and online environments at the service (Regulation 168)

Services are required to implement a policy and procedures to ensure children’s safety when using digital technologies and online environments addressing: 

• Taking, use, storage and destruction of images and videos of children being educated and cared for.
• Parental authorisation for taking, using and storing images and videos. 
• Use of any optical surveillance devices (e.g. CCTV).
• Use of any digital device issued by the service.
• Use of digital devices by children while at the service.

The National Model Code: Taking images in early childhood education and care and accompanying guidelines can assist in developing or updating your policies

Notification timeframes for physical and sexual abuse 

The timeframe for notifying the Education Standards Board of allegations or incidents of physical and sexual abuse will reduce from 7 days to 24 hours.

Prohibition of vaping devices and substances 

The use of vaping devices and substances will be prohibited in service environments, aligning with existing requirements to keep children safe from tobacco and alcohol. 

National Quality Standard 

From 1 January 2026, minor refinements, sharpening the focus on child safety, will take effect:

Quality Area 2: Children’s Health and Safety

• Element 2.2.3 will be renamed Child Safety and protection, emphasising the need for educators to identify and respond to children at risk of abuse or neglect.

Quality Area 7: Governance and Leadership

• Quality Area 7 including Standard 7.1 and Element 7.1.2 will explicitly reference and support the operation of child safe services.

More information 

The following support is available to help approved providers and their services prepare for these changes:

NQF Child Safety Guides: Newly developed Child Safe Culture Guide and Online Safety Guides are now available. 

ACECQA Information Sheet: Provides further information about these changes. 

For more information about the National Child Safety Review, click here. 

For any other questions you can contact the Education Standards Board via phone 1800 882 413 or email educationstandardsboard@sa.gov.au