Mandatory Child Safety Training for the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector
Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility across the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector. To strengthen child safeguarding practices nationally, the Australian Government has introduced mandatory National Child Safety Training, which must be completed by everyone working or volunteering in regulated ECEC services.
At METS Training Services, we’re committed to supporting educators and employers to stay informed about mandatory industry requirements and maintain compliance with current legislation and best practice.
What is National Child Safety Training?
National Child Safety Training is a free, online training program delivered exclusively through Geccko, the Australian Government’s official learning platform for the ECEC sector.
The training has been developed by the Australian Centre for Child Protection (ACCP) in partnership with the Queensland Government on behalf of all Australian states, territories and the Australian Government. It has been designed to:
- Strengthen child safeguarding practices
- Help educators recognise, respond to and report child safety concerns
- Support services to meet their legal child safety obligations
- Promote a nationally consistent approach to protecting children in education and care settings. (Department of Education)
Who Needs to Complete the Training?
The Foundation Training is mandatory for all people working or volunteering in an Early Childhood Education and Care service regulated under the National Quality Framework (NQF).
This includes:
- Educators
- Centre Directors
- Nominated Supervisors
- Persons with Management or Control
- Persons in Day-to-Day Charge
- Family Day Care Educators
- Administration and support staff
- Students completing placements
- Regular and semi-regular volunteers. (Department of Education)
Training Requirements
The Foundation Training is now available through Geccko.
Current requirements include:
- Existing ECEC staff must complete the Foundation Training by 27 August 2026.
- New staff entering the sector from 14 August 2026 must complete the training within 14 days of commencing employment or before working directly with children, whichever occurs first.
- The Foundation Training must be renewed every two years to maintain compliance. (Department of Education)
Advanced National Child Safety Training modules are also being progressively introduced from July 2026. (Department of Education)
How Do I Complete the Training?
The National Child Safety Training cannot be completed through METS Training Services or any other provider. It is available only through the Australian Government’s Geccko platform.
To complete the training, you will need to:
- Create your own Geccko account using a personal email address.
- Log in to Geccko.
- Enrol in the National Child Safety Foundation Training.
- Complete both Foundation courses in sequence.
- Download your completion certificate for your records and provide a copy to your employer if requested. (Department of Education)
Access the Official Training
For further information about the mandatory National Child Safety Training, registration, FAQs and to access the Geccko learning platform, visit the Australian Government Department of Education:
National Child Safety Training in Geccko
Supporting Australia’s Early Childhood Workforce
While this mandatory training is completed directly through Geccko, METS Training Services remains committed to supporting educators through nationally recognised qualifications, traineeships and professional development opportunities that build safe, inclusive and high-quality learning environments for children.
If you’re interested in commencing or progressing your career in Early Childhood Education and Care, contact the METS Training Services team to discuss our range of nationally recognised training programs.
