The problem examined in this Decision Regulation Impact Statement (D-RIS) is that the Child Safety Review (CSR) confirms that while the National Quality Framework is a robust regulatory scheme, more could be done to better support services to protect children attending an education and care service, with a focus on improving child safety. The CSR also recognises the reports of alleged abuse within the sector, spurring the need to review and strengthen protections to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children attending approved education and care services.   

The findings of the CSR point to scope for improvement across several dimensions to address emerging issues, close loopholes, strengthen policies and practices, support staff capabilities and improve the protection of children in the face of new online technologies to support further improvements to the regulatory scheme.   

The D-RIS recommends a range of options by area of reform with the highest net benefit based on multi-criteria analysis and break-even analysis. Where possible, the D-RIS has estimated the average regulatory costs of the preferred options per year, over ten years.

Several policy options have been identified in the D-RIS to improve child safety. Changes that include regulatory and non-regulatory approaches (such as training or education) are on the horizon with policy options about:

• child safety training
• management of devices
• enforcement options
• information sharing
• inappropriate conduct including by individuals
• service waivers for the design of premises to facilitate supervision of children
• assessment of family day care residences
• powers of entry to family day care residences
• working with children checks. 

The Impact Analysis outcome assessed the D-RIS as compliant.