Call for change in how NSW sector reforms

It is obvious that current and anticipated reforms are at risk of not being as effective. Worse, they are contributing to unintended negative consequences, including further exacerbating workforce shortages particularly much needed leadership, experience and knowledge now leaving the sector.

Despite the reforms' importance and intentions, avoidance of all confusion and maximising all of the sector ought to be paramount. Hence why ACA NSW has conveyed again our members' concerns (for a second time), urging the NSW Government to consider a different approach.

"Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."

"Change cannot be put on people. The best way to instil change is to do it with them. Create it with them."

"All chyange is not growth, as all movement is not forward."

Especially after more than 14 years of the National Quality Framework (that is implemented by the NSW Department of Education and the NSW Regulatory Authority), it is arguably opportune to reconsider how our sector develops and changes.

ACA NSW has (again) suggested to the NSW Government a co-regulatory approach, one that still preserves the power, role and responsibilities of the government (and its agencies) while fully engaging and leveraging the sector, its experiences, expertises and capacities.

This is in addition to ACA NSW's suggestions to the NSW Department of Education, the (new) NSW Early Learning Commission (as the new NSW Regulatory Authority) and the NSW sector about sharing and leveraging sector information so as to ensure progress and outcomes are being measured and overtly achieved.

For any further information/clarification, please contact the ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 4 MAY 2026