Overview
- The Starting Blocks portal now shows regulator visit dates, conditions on centres and more provider details, with compliance breaches and enforcement actions to be published from November.
- A nationwide ban on personal mobile phone use by educators inside centres took effect on Monday.
- The federal government will trial CCTV at up to 300 childcare centres from October and regulators will conduct more unannounced spot checks.
- State and territory governments are developing a national register of early childhood staff to strengthen screening and information sharing.
- Penalties under national regulations have been increased and services that fail to meet safety standards face potential funding cuts.