Australia Plans CCTV Trial, Safety Reforms in 300 Childcare Centres

The Australian government, led by Education Minister Jason Clare, is launching a national trial of CCTV cameras in up to 300 childcare centres starting October or November 2025 to enhance child safety. This initiative is part of a broader $189 million safety overhaul, which also includes creating a national register of childcare workers and implementing mandatory safety training and mobile phone bans in centres. The CCTV trial will explore camera placement, data storage, and security measures to prevent hacking, acknowledging the balance needed between privacy and child protection. The trial follows multiple recent abuse allegations and reviews, with state and territory governments collaborating to improve standards and increase compliance inspections. While some states already support CCTV usage, concerns remain about privacy and the risk of complacency, emphasizing that cameras are only one tool among other necessary safety measures. The register, planned for rollout in early 2026, aims to give regulators better oversight of childcare workers, complementing recent national working-with-children check reforms.