Inquiry into the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector in Victoria

INQUIRY INTO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE SECTOR IN VICTORIA

That a Select Committee of six members be appointed to inquire into, consider and report on the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector in Victoria, including but not limited to —

(a)    the adequacy of current quality and safety standards across all ECEC service types;

(b)    the quality and oversight of educator training, professional development and qualifications, including a review of the effectiveness of Working with Children Checks and of Registered Training Organisations issuing early childhood certifications;

(c)    the impacts of Victoria’s predominantly privatised ECEC system, including a comparison with public, not-for-profit and cooperative models in terms of accessibility, affordability, safety and outcomes;

(d)    the impact of workforce conditions, such as pay, job security, workload and recognition on educator wellbeing, retention and service quality;

(e)    the adequacy of staff-to-child ratio regulations, including ratios being averaged across entire services rather than applied per room;

(f)     whether there is sufficient oversight of the Department of Education and the role it plays in monitoring and maintaining child safety;

(g)    any other matter in relation to the adequacy, implementation, compliance and/or enforcement of child safety standards and regulations in the ECEC sector.

Final report due by 30 July 2026