Select Committee on the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector in Victoria

Inquiry into the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector in Victoria

Referred (Terms of Reference)

The Select Committee will inquire into and report on the Early Childhood Education and Care sector in Victoria including the adequacy of current quality and safety standards, the quality and oversight of educator training, professional development and qualifications, the impacts of Victoria's predominantly privatised system, the impact of workforce conditions, the adequacy of staff-to-child ratio regulations, whether there is sufficient oversight of the Department of Education and any other matter in relation to the adequacy, implementation, compliance and/or enforcement of child safety standards and regulations in the sector.

Read the terms of reference

Terms of reference

The terms of reference are instructions which explain what a committee has been asked to do, what topics it should focus on, and how its members will work together to achieve its shared goals.

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