UNICEF Australia welcomes national child safety reforms amid alarming new data on early childhood development
We welcome today’s announcement by Minister for Education Jason Clare and Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Jess Walsh, introducing stronger national child safety measures across early childhood education and care services. These reforms—ranging from mandatory 24-hour reporting of abuse allegations to tighter digital safety protocols—are a vital step in ensuring that every child is protected, respected, and nurtured in their earliest years.
This announcement comes at a critical time. New data from the 2024 Australian Early Development Census reveals that nearly half of all Australian children are starting school developmentally vulnerable across all five assessed domains – physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, and communication skills and general knowledge.
This data underscores the urgent need for a truly universal early learning system that is accessible, affordable, and inclusive for every child, regardless of their background or postcode. The first five years of life are foundational, with 90% of brain development occurring before school. This means embedding safety, equity, and quality into every aspect of early childhood education is critical to ensure every child in Australia has the opportunity to thrive.
The reforms announced today represent a critical step towards building a future where every child enters school ready to learn and succeed. To further strengthen these reforms, UNICEF Australia recommends:
· Enforcing a nationally consistent approach to Working with Children Checks so individuals working with children are held to the same high standards of safety and accountability, no matter where they are in Australia.
· Establishing a statutory, independent body tasked with monitoring child safety across all early childhood education and care services in Australia.
· Developing a National Plan for Children to support a coordinated, whole-of-government strategy that places children at the centre of policy and planning.
We commend the leadership shown by the government and look forward to working together to deliver on our shared vision for every child in Australia to thrive.
16 June 2025