7 May 2026
Latest News
The following text is lifted from an ACA Media Release - Thursday 7 May 2026:
The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that it will begin consultation on establishing a national Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Commission, describing it as an important opportunity to strengthen oversight and improve outcomes across the sector.
“The sector supports meaningful reform that genuinely improves child safety, service quality and long-term sustainability, but the effectiveness of any new body will ultimately depend on the powers and responsibilities assigned to it,” Mr Mondo said.
“We welcome the government beginning consultation on the purpose and role of an ECEC Commission.”
“There is broad recognition across the sector that we need stronger national coordination and better long-term planning in early childhood education and care.” Mr Mondo continued.
“Our conversations on this issue started over a decade ago, when ACA wrote in its ECEC Future Directions paper in 2016 that the development of new services in already adequately supplied geographic areas risks a decrease in service quality.”
“That message hasn’t changed for us. The success of achieving the change families and the sector require will depend entirely on whether the new Commission is given the authority required to address these identified challenges.”
The ACA said any future ECEC Commission must have a clear mandate to address critical issues including child safety, market oversupply and service planning.
“In some communities we are seeing significant oversupply of services, while other areas continue to experience childcare deserts and limited access for families. ACA has identified the issue of oversupply for almost a decade and we cannot address deserts without also addressing oversupply,” Mr Mondo said.
“If the ECEC Commission is to have a meaningful purpose, it cannot simply become another advisory body without the ability to influence outcomes.”
The ACA said genuine reform would require close co-operation between Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments, particularly in relation to planning and infrastructure approvals.
“For a national ECEC Commission to be truly effective, State Governments would need to work collaboratively and grant it authority to help guide decisions about future state and territory infrastructure locations and service planning,” Mr Mondo said.
“Without those powers, there is a real risk the Commission would add another layer of bureaucracy without delivering practical benefits to children, families or providers.”
The ACA also reiterated that child safety must remain at the centre of all reform discussions and welcomed measures to strengthen protections across the ECEC sector.
“Every provider wants children to be safe, supported and thriving in quality early learning environments,” Mr Mondo said.
“We look forward to engaging constructively in the consultation process to ensure any reforms are practical, evidence-based and focused on delivering better outcomes for children and families.”
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact Tammy Wayne-Elliot, Fifty Acres at tammy@fiftyacres.com or Mobile: 0414 428 440
