CEO Jacqui Emery said the new law was an important first step but must be accompanied by systemic reforms that address the unique challenges faced by regional, rural and remote communities.
“We welcome these new laws that will bar unscrupulous providers from accessing taxpayer funds – there must be zero tolerance for those who put children at risk,” Ms Emery said.
“However, for rural and remote families who often have just one childcare centre in their community, we need to go further than punishment after the fact.
“When your only childcare option closes due to safety breaches, parents can’t work, children miss out on crucial early learning, and the whole community suffers.
Ms Emery said prevention through stronger oversight and workforce support is critical.
“A National Early Childhood Commission would provide the coordinated leadership essential for ensuring Australia’s high-quality childcare standards are enforced consistently and help support providers in rural and remote Australia.
Ms Emery also highlighted the urgent need to address workforce challenges in regional, rural and remote areas, noting that this is equally vital to maintaining safety standards.
“Outside metropolitan areas, it’s harder to recruit qualified staff, harder to access professional development and harder to provide the mentoring and support educators need,” she said. “We must invest in better wages, improved working conditions and accessible professional development for educators in the bush, so that quality and safety are deeply embedded inside every service.
“When educators are properly trained, adequately paid and have manageable workloads, they can focus on what matters: keeping children safe and supporting their healthy development.”
Ms Emery urged the Federal Government to build on this important first step by establishing a National Early Childhood Commission and implementing a comprehensive rural workforce strategy within this term of parliament.