Child Safety Reforms Checklist – NSW ECEC Services 2026

Stay ahead of the NSW Child Safety Reforms introduced on 24 April 2026 with this practical, educator-friendly checklist designed specifically for Early Childhood Education and Care services.

Created to support Approved Providers, Nominated Supervisors, Educational Leaders and leadership teams, this resource breaks down key reform areas into clear, actionable steps that services can immediately implement within their governance, policies, recruitment practices and daily operations.

This checklist supports services to strengthen compliance, embed child-safe cultures and confidently prepare for Assessment and Rating while prioritising the safety, wellbeing and rights of every child.

What’s Included

✔ Governance, Leadership and Accountability checklist
✔ Policies, Procedures and Code of Conduct checklist
✔ Recruitment, Screening and Working with Children Checks checklist
✔ Action-required sections with responsibilities identified
✔ Evidence-to-keep prompts for compliance documentation
✔ Status tracking and review date sections
✔ Best practice recommendations beyond minimum compliance
✔ Easy-to-follow format suitable for leadership teams and educators

Perfect For

• Long Day Care Services
• Preschools & Kindergartens
• Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)
• Family Day Care Coordination Units
• Approved Providers & Management Committees
• Centre Directors & Nominated Supervisors

Why Services Love This Resource

✅ Saves hours of research and planning
✅ Helps services understand reform expectations clearly
✅ Supports Quality Improvement Planning (QIP)
✅ Encourages accountability and reflective leadership practice
✅ Practical and easy to implement immediately
✅ Designed with real ECEC operational needs in mind

Areas Covered

This checklist supports services in implementing reforms related to:

• Child-safe governance practices
• Responsible person requirements
• Policy reviews and updates
• Child-safe codes of conduct
• Family-friendly child protection resources
• Safe recruitment processes
• Working With Children Check verification and monitoring
• Supervision and staffing compliance
• Record keeping and evidence collection