Protecting children is everyone’s business.
ACECQA, in partnership with all governments, released the NQF Child Safe Culture Guide and NQF Online Safety Guide in response to recommendations from the Child Safety Review.
The two NQF Child Safety Guides provide guidance to help education and care services keep children safe, including when online.
The guides are designed for approved providers, service leaders, educators and all staff and volunteers who work in education and care services to share, reflect on and improve their child safety practices.
They help adults and children to better understand child safety and how services should respond if concerns arise.
NQF Child Safe Culture Guide
The NQF Child Safe Culture Guide is a resource for services to help keep children safe, address risks, and respond to concerns and incidents. Watch this video to learn more about this guide.
NQF Online Safety Guide
The NQF Online Safety Guide is there to support services to keep children safe using digital technologies and online. Watch this video to learn more about this guide.
Educators and staff at your child’s service may talk to you about child safety and how they use the practices in the NQF Child Safety Guides at the service. You can also ask about how they create a child safe culture in your service, including online.
From 1 September 2025, important regulatory changes to keep children safe will also come into effect. The NQF Child Safety Guides can help providers and their services prepare for new requirements for:
- policies and procedures about safe use of digital technologies and online environments
- notifying within 24 hours to report incidents or allegations of physical or sexual abuse
- ensuring service environments are free from the use of vaping substances and vaping devices
From 1 January 2026, refinements to the National Quality Standard will sharpen the focus on child safety in Quality Areas 2 and 7.
For more information, read the NQF Child Safety Changes information sheet.