Childcare CCTV trial may extend to 10,000 centres

Childcare CCTV Trial May Extend To 10,000 Centres – A national CCTV trial across up to 300 Australian childcare centres will commence in October or November 2025, following a unanimous agreement from federal, state and territory education ministers.

The $22 million initiative is part of a broader $189 million child safety reform package, which also includes a national educator register and mandatory safety training for early learning workers. There are 10,000 childcare centres across Australia that could require CCTV solutions at the conclusion of the trial.

According to Federal Education Minister Jason Clare, the CCTV trial aims to protect vulnerable children and prevent future abuse in early education settings. In response to recent high-profile allegations of abuse, including the case of Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, the trial has gained urgency and national backing.

Clare said the trial would be designed with oversight from the Australian Centre for Child Protection and will focus on camera placement, secure storage, and data privacy protocols. He warned of the risk that poorly protected video data could be exploited and stressed the importance of protecting video storage – all this is standard fare for electronic security professionals.

The trial will include not-for-profit centres and those already preparing for CCTV installation. The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) will also support the trial, and an external organisation will assist in designing and reviewing the program.

Data protection is the major concern of all involved, with significant corporate and government networks regularly falling victim to breaches, safeguarding footage involving children will demand strict controls and clear national standards.

Goodstart Early Learning, Australia’s largest not-for-profit provider, is already piloting cameras in some centres. Goodstart CEO Ros Baxter supported the trial but noted that other systemic factors, including such as staff-to-child ratios, professional development, and reporting cultures, are equally critical to improving child safety.

Oversight and advice for the project will be provided by the Australian Centre for Child Protection and ACECQA – you can learn more about Australian Centre for Child Protection here or read more SEN news here.

Features of the National Childcare CCTV Trial

Up to 300 centres included from late 2025
$22 million allocated for installation, review, and security
Oversight by Australian Centre for Child Protection and ACECQA
Secure storage and data access protocols a key focus
Support for small and not-for-profit centres
Trial design to include consultation and external review.

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