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New regulations for Victorian services

Services regulated under the National Quality Framework must abide by new requirements which came into effect in June.

Two staff members at a desk in an open plan office.

From 11 June 2026 there are new regulations which apply to all Victorian ECEC services regulated under the National Quality Framework.

The new Victorian regulations also introduce 4 new infringeable offences and larger penalties for offences committed by large providers.

Display of quality and compliance information

The regulations require all services to display their current and previous overall quality rating, along with their compliance history for the past 2 years from 12 August 2026.

This information should be clearly visible and displayed near the service’s entrance. Family day care services need to display it at their venue, residence and principal office.

Approved providers will be responsible for ensuring information is accurate, complete and current.

Refer to the Displaying quality and compliance history webpage for full details of the information required, examples of what it may look like, and an information sheet to share with families.

Reportable sexual conduct notification

From 12 August 2026, approved providers must notify VECRA within 24 hours of becoming aware of reportable sexual conduct that occurs at a service or outside it.

Reportable sexual conduct, or a sexual offence, is committed against, with or in the presence of a child by a person employed or engaged to perform work or provide services at an education and care service.

This includes the following staff:

  • nominated supervisors.
  • educators
  • family day care educators
  • anybody else who is employed or engaged by the service.
  • volunteers.

Infringeable offences

The new Victorian regulations also introduce four new infringeable offences and larger penalties for offences committed by large providers. Three of these new infringeable offences are now in force with the fourth to commence on 12 August 2026:

  • section 216D (8) – failure to comply with emergency order, service closure for emergency events
  • section 223 B(4) – failure to comply with Ministerial direction to take specific action to prioritise the safety, welfare or wellbeing of children attending education and care services
  • section 261 A(4) – failure to comply with Regulatory Authority direction to take specific action for the safety, health or wellbeing of children
  • section 172(3) – failure to display quality and compliance history at education and care service premises.

From 24 June, changes to regulations give VECRA clear guidance to be able to determine if providers are ‘related’, with shared operational links, based on shared:

  • HR, payroll and IT systems
  • management and control arrangements
  • ownership, franchise arrangements and associations.

Updated

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