Is Australia Finally Fixing How We Track Childcare Workers’ Criminal History?

When you drop your child off at daycare, you’re putting an enormous amount of trust in the people running that centre. And while Australia does have systems to screen and monitor childcare workers, the truth is… it hasn’t always been as tight or consistent as parents assume.

Right now, the way we track criminal history in the early childhood sector is a patchwork, improving, but still full of gaps. Here’s what’s really going on behind the scenes, and how new reforms are aiming to lift the safety bar for good.

The System We’ve Been Relying On

1. Working With Children Checks (WWCCs)

Every childcare worker must hold a Working With Children Check (or similar, depending on the state). It’s meant to flag criminal offences, charges, or concerning behaviour.

Some states even monitor card-holders continuously, meaning new offences can trigger a suspension.

The problem? Each state runs its own system, which means history hasn’t always travelled cleanly across borders.

2. National Police Checks

Childcare providers also need to run National Police Checks for educators, managers, and responsible persons. These checks need to be recent, and they’re used to assess someone’s suitability before they start work.

They’re important, but again: they’re a snapshot. A moment in time.

3. “Fit and Proper” Assessments

Under the National Quality Framework and Family Assistance Law, regulatory authorities have to consider whether a person is “fit and proper” to work with children.

That includes criminal history, ongoing legal proceedings, and any behaviour that could pose a risk.

It sounds thorough and often is, but it relies heavily on accurate, timely information being shared.

Where the System Falls Down

The big issue? Fragmentation.

Because checks are state-based, there’s been inconsistent information-sharing between jurisdictions. Someone barred in one state could theoretically move to another without their full history following them.

Inquiries have also criticised the lack of a national record-keeping mechanism — meaning workers with repeated “red flags” could move between centres without a national alert system.

No centre wants to hire someone with a dangerous history — but the system hasn’t always given them the full picture.

The Good News: A National Tracking System Is Coming

In response to recent inquiries and public pressure, governments have finally agreed to overhaul how childcare workers are monitored.

The biggest reform?

A National Continuous Checking Capability (NCCC)

This developing system will allow real-time monitoring of Working With Children Check holders across the entire country — not just by state.

In short:

✔️ New offences will be flagged automatically

✔️ All jurisdictions will share information

✔️ Childcare workers can’t “start fresh” by moving interstate

It’s designed to close long-criticised loopholes and lift national standards for protection.

Governments have already signed off on reform packages, and the pilot programs are in motion. This could be the biggest safety upgrade the sector has seen in years.

What This Means for Families, Workers & Centres

• Families get more confidence that real risks are being tracked, not missed.

• Childcare centres finally get a system they can rely on, without guesswork.

• Workers benefit from consistency and clearer expectations across Australia.

It’s not perfect yet, but it’s a big step toward the unified, modern safety system Australia has long needed.

Australia has always had checks for childcare workers — but they weren’t as nationally connected as you’d expect. With the new national monitoring system underway, we’re moving toward a future where every child, in every state, is protected by the same high-standard screening.

It’s overdue. But it’s happening.