Significant changes to award wages and classification structures will take effect across the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector from 1 March 2026. The reforms follow a landmark Fair Work Commission decision addressing gender-based undervaluation and will directly affect services operating under the Children’s Services Award 2010.
As workforce pressures continue to shape early childhood education and care (ECEC) across regional New South Wales, structured relocation support is emerging as a critical lever for attraction, retention and long-term community stability.
G8 Education Limited (ASX: GEM) has entered a period of heightened scrutiny following a sharp earnings decline, falling occupancy rates and significant shifts in institutional shareholdings.
Less than two months into its operation, Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA) has initiated criminal proceedings against a former approved provider and associated individuals, signalling a strong enforcement posture at the outset of its mandate.
When early childhood experts argue in favour of a universal system, they are not proposing a one size-fits-all solution. This sector has many different providers, including government, private and not for profit providers, across the spectrum of large national operators to small single site family businesses or community groups. There is also a spectrum of service models, from family day care and in-home care, to preschool, kindergarten and long day care centres, as well as outside school hours care and multi-purpose child and family hubs. Communities are diverse and families have different needs; it is important to provide choice and flexibility.
Australia’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector was the subject of renewed scrutiny at the Senate Education and Employment References Committee hearing on 24 February 2026, with witnesses raising concerns about child safety, workforce pressures and system design under the National Quality Framework (NQF).
National child safety reforms are reshaping expectations across early childhood education and care (ECEC). While annual third-party outdoor audits are not universally mandated, regulatory direction suggests that minimum compliance may no longer be sufficient. While annual third-party outdoor audits are not yet universally mandated, regulatory direction increasingly suggests that minimum compliance may no longer be sufficient.
The early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector continues to operate in a complex and shifting environment.
Regulator issues emergency action notice following serious transport compliance breaches, reinforcing safe transportation obligations under the National Quality Framework.
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