This inquiry was established on 20 March 2025 to inquire into and report on the early childhood education and care sector in New South Wales.
Video recordings of hearings, where available, can be found on the NSW Parliament's YouTube channel.
To assist individuals from non-English speaking backgrounds, the committee has translated the terms of reference and a submission guide into the following languages: Arabic, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Hindi, Filipino, Punjabi and Urdu. The submission guide explains how to make a submission to this inquiry. Individuals from non-English speaking backgrounds are encouraged to refer to these resources, available at the terms of reference and other documents tabs.
Individual experiences
Submissions about individual experiences will inform our thinking about the early childhood education and care sector. However, this inquiry will not be conducting investigations or reviews of individual cases.
If you are concerned about the health, safety or wellbeing of a child while attending an ECEC service, you should contact the NSW Department of Education as soon as possible on 1800 619 113 or via email [email protected]
Support for inquiry participants
If you feel distressed because of sensitive content encountered during this inquiry, we encourage you to reach out to the following resources:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) or text 0477 13 11 14. Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services
- Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511. The Mental Health Line is NSW Health's free 24/7 statewide phone service which links people with NSW Health mental health services
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800. Kids Helpline provides free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25
- 13Yarn: 13 92 76. 13Yarn is a free 24/7 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line
- Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578 (1800 FULL STOP), 24/7, free and confidential support.
- National Violence and Abuse Trauma Counselling and Recovery Service for anyone in Australia who has been impacted by sexual, domestic or family violence. This includes families, friends and supporters of anyone impacted by sexual, domestic or family violence
- NSW Sexual Violence Helpline (formerly NSW Rape Crisis): 1800 424 017, 24/7, free and confidential support. NSW Sexual Violence Helpline is for anyone in NSW who has been impacted by sexual violence, recently or in the past. Loved ones of victims impacted by sexual violence, recently or in the past. Others who have been impacted by this violence, including professionals or first responders.
Inquiry terms of reference
1. That Portfolio Committee 3 – Education inquire into and report on the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector in New South Wales, including:
(a) the safety, health and wellbeing of children in ECEC services
(b) the quality of ECEC services and the educational and developmental outcomes for children attending ECEC services
(c) the safety, pay and conditions of workers within the ECEC sector
(d) the effectiveness of the regulatory framework for the ECEC sector as applied in New South Wales
(e) the effectiveness of the NSW ECEC Regulatory Authority
(f) the collection, evaluation and publication of reliable data in relation to ECEC services and the level of public knowledge and access to information made available about each ECEC service
(g) the availability and affordability of quality training institutions for early childhood education qualifications
(h) the composition of the ECEC sector and the impact of government funding on the type and quality of services
(i) the experiences of children with disability, and their parents and carers, in ECEC services, and
(j) any other related matters.
2. That the Committee report by 31 March 2026.
