Wednesday, 4 February 2026

 Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:24): I rise to update the house on the Allan Labor government’s new and expanded regulators that are commencing this year. On 1 January this year the Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority, VECRA, commenced operations as a new independent early childhood regulator. VECRA was obviously created following the recommendations of the rapid child safety review. VECRA’s number one priority is clear: keeping children safe from harm. Families should be able to trust that their children are safe in quality early childhood services that are fit for purpose, with no exceptions. VECRA’s establishment has been supported by our government’s initial $137 million investment. This investment is supporting implementation of a suite of reforms to improve child safety. For VECRA this means an increased number of authorised officers to strengthen on-the-ground regulatory oversight and undertake nation-leading unannounced compliance visits. VECRA will also be embedding the new regulatory powers it has under the national law reforms that we legislated through this Parliament last year. VECRA has already announced a number of enforcement actions it has taken against early childhood education providers.

A large part of our reforms has also been about strengthening how information is shared between regulators such as VECRA and the Social Services Regulator to identify risk. This month, in direct response to the rapid review, we are bringing the working with children check, reportable conduct scheme and child safe standards into the Social Services Regulator. This means the Social Services Regulator will have more information and authority to act swiftly to reassess, refuse, suspend or revoke a working with children check when credible information is received. In addition, a new intelligence and risk assessment unit is being established in the regulator with access to evidence-based tools to assess risk and ensure consistent and robust decision-making. Further enhancements are coming into effect, including mandatory child safety training and testing for working with children check applicants, and employers and volunteer organisations will be required to notify the regulator when they engage a working with children check holder. This investment in our regulators sends a clear message: child safety is our government’s highest priority.