Almost 5050 children were injured, became ill or experienced trauma at Victorian childcare centres last financial year, an increase of 8 per cent, according to the latest Productivity Commission report released on Tuesday.
More than 730 children were also locked out of – or in – Victorian childcare centres or were unaccounted for, according to the report. Emergency services were called to centres 830 times.
The report reveals that children are less safe and that staff are less qualified in Australian childcare centres than they were in 2021. The data comes after substantial investment to upskill early learning educators in Victoria, and amid upheaval in the sector following horrific allegations of child sex abuse in childcare centres after Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown allegedly abused eight children and babies in his care.
In September last year, the government implemented a ban on personal devices in childcare centres and conducted CCTV assessments in centres. Additionally, it is rolling out mandatory child safe training to staff, a national educator register and a review of staffing practices.
The rate of serious incidents, which seriously compromise the health, safety or wellbeing of children attending early childhood education and care services, increased to 6613 from 6142.
“Staff quality” in early childhood and education centres (which measures the qualifications and experience of staff) has decreased since the previous workforce census in 2021. In the last financial year, 75 per cent of paid contact staff had either formal qualifications at certificate III or higher, or three or more years’ relevant experience, down from 82.1 per cent.
The number of serious incidents in Victorian early childhood education and care settings relating to a confirmed breach of the national quality framework (where relevant legislation, regulations or conditions at an approved service were not met) has doubled since 2020/2021, from 188 incidents to 533 in 2024/25.
Victorian parents are also paying more for childcare than last year, with the median weekly cost of 50 hours of subsidised care cost $719 in 2025 – up from $704 the previous year.
There was also an increase in confirmed breaches across all centres, up 145.4 breaches per 100 approved services in 2024/25 from 118.4 in 2023/24.
Bambini Family Day Care was issued an emergency action notice about safe sleeping in February last year after a baby died at one of its centres in Skye, in Melbourne’s south-east. The service shut all 56 of its services across Victoria in October last year.
Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh said the department was working “shoulder-to-shoulder” with the states and territories to strengthen the sector.
“Our $226 million reforms mark the biggest change to the sector since the national early learning system was introduced 15 years ago,” she said.
“That’s why we’re investing in this workforce with our 15 per cent pay rise for educators, which is helping to stabilise the sector.”
Walsh said the department was implementing stronger regulation with increased penalties, more regulator visits and legislation allowing us to withdraw funding from poor providers.
“Education ministers from across the country will discuss safety in early learning again when they meet later this month,” she said.
Early Childhood Australia chief executive officer Samantha Page said an early childhood services commission was needed.
She said worker retention grants had improved wages in the sector and had a positive impact on stability. However, she said too many childcare services in some areas had created problems.
“We have new services going into areas that are well served,” she said. “You end up with services that are half full and operating with low rates of enrolments with minimum staffing levels,” she said.
Nicole Precel is an education reporter at The Age. She was previously an audio video producer. She is also a documentary maker. Get in touch at nicole.precel@theage.com.auConnect via X, Facebook or email.