New NSW Children's Guardian and her likely priorities

Last week, the NSW Minister for Families and Communities (the Hon Kate Washington MP) appointed Rachael Ward as the new NSW Children's Guardian.

ACA NSW welcomes Ms Ward's appointment as she has been the acting NSW Children's Guardian since March 2025.

It is worth noting that her appointment also coincides with a $5.5m increase in the NSW Children's Guardian annual budget specifically to support increased compliance, review and enforcement activities. This is in addition to its previous annual budget of $22.7m. And given the child safety failures exposed since 2024, this was expected.

It is therefore a timely reminder that Approved Providers must not only verify all employees' Working With Children Check (WWCC), they must also register themselves as the employer of those employees with the NSW Children's Guardian. This registration enables Approved Providers and their services to be informed by the NSW Children's Guardian if any of the WWCC statuses have changed.

The NSW Children's Guardian has a checklist for employers to use. This includes the obligation of Approved Providers to also ensure proper record keeping (eg in Word or Excel formats).

Relevant fines for non-compliances of between $500 and $11,000 are listed on pages 12-15 of the NSW Children's Guardian's Compliance and Enforcement Policy.

For any further information/clarification, please contact the Office of the NSW Children's Guardian.

And should ACA NSW be of assistance, please feel free to contact the ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 9 FEBRUARY 2026