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Education Ministers have agreed to further national reforms to build stronger child safety measures. National consultation is underway on the agreed reforms to help inform future decisions and understand the impacts of implementing the next round of child safety changes. Have your say on 7 areas for reform:
Share your feedback on the implementation of further reforms by completing the online survey before 28 April 2026. You can access the survey here.
Learn moreFor detailed information about the changes, visit Child Safety Reform Consultation 2026. Please note, this survey will be hosted nationally from the Queensland Department of Education website.
In family day care, one of the most common breaches relates to Regulation 173A – Prescribed information to be displayed – family day care service
Displaying required information helps families, educators and visitors clearly understand important service details, supports transparency, and helps approved providers meet their legal obligations.
Under Section 172 of the National Law and Regulation 173A of the National Regulations, approved providers must ensure prescribed information is displayed so it is clearly visible from the main entrance to each service office, each family day care residence and each approved family day care venue.
This prescribed information includes: details about provider and service approvals, service ratings, waivers, the names of nominated supervisors and the educational leader, complaints contact details, Regulatory Authority contact details, hours and days of operation, and residence/venue-specific information such as approved care areas and required health notices.
Approved providers are responsible for ensuring this information is displayed is current, accurate and displayed at every required location.
Key Points to Remember:
While not specifically prescribed under Regulation 173A, services should also ensure diagrams and risk assessments clearly identify water hazards, restricted areas and safety controls as part of broader safety and assessment obligations.
Some states and territories may have additional jurisdiction-specific display or compliance publication requirements. Services should check with their Regulatory Authority if unsure.
If educators are unsure as to whether all the information displayed is correct or up to date, it's important to reach out to your coordination unit for support. They can guide you to ensure compliance and provide updates where necessary.
Useful Resource:
The Small Bites for Big Steps series includes two self-paced online courses focused on physical activity and healthy eating. Designed specifically for family day care educators, the courses provide practical strategies and best practice recommendations to support healthy behaviours in children.
The courses include short videos and reflective questions, with content tailored across different age groups from birth to five years of age. This structure makes it easy for educators to apply the learning in a way that aligns with the developmental needs of the children in their care.
While delivered by NSW Health, the content is broadly applicable and supports national quality and practice expectations, making it a valuable resource for educators and services in all jurisdictions.
For more information and to register for the free course visit the Small Bites for Big Steps website.
Early outcomes from the Family Day Care Capability Trial continues to show that when new educators establish services, there are meaningful benefits for local communities. This reinforces the important role of family day care in providing children and families in regional and remote areas with access to high-quality, flexible early childhood education and care.
For the families in small regional towns of New South Wales and Tasmania, where Lila and Erica opened their family day care practices, options were limited. Their services now only provided relationship-based, quality early education and care but also reduced commuting times for families and supporting parents to stay in or return to work.
With support from the Trial, both educators were able to invest in essential infrastructure, safety upgrades and technology required to meet regulator and operational requirements, which removed some of the key barriers to getting started.
Their experiences highlight how family day care can offer a practical and sustainable solution in communities where other service types may not be viable, while also creating new opportunities for educators and supporting service growth.
Read Lila and Ericas’ stories here.
The Family Day Care Australia national office will be closed on Monday 27th April 2026 for the Anzac Day public holiday.
Should your family day care insurance require renewal during this period or if you need to purchase a new family day care insurance policy, please visit our website. If you need to make an emergency claim, details of how to do this are located on our website.
The Department of Education has declared a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) period of emergency declared in Western Australia.
If you recently closed your service due to a period of emergency, the approved provider should contact the Australian Government Department of Education through the Provider Entry Point (PEP) or third-party software and also contact your state or territory regulatory authority.
The following support is available in affected regions during the CCS period of emergency:
Note: a gap fee waiver is a type of provider discount. Approved providers must report the type and amount of prescribed discounts in session reports if they have been applied for the session.
Click here for more information about support during a CCS period of emergency.
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