What to Report in ECEC - And Where to Report It

Cheyanne Carter
Jun 16
2 min read

This guide simplifies the process so you and your team know exactly where to turn.

Serious Incidents, Breaches, and Complaints

Report to: Your State's ECEC Regulatory Authority

What to report:

Serious incidents (e.g. missing children, injuries requiring hospitalisation, emergency evacuations)
Non-compliance with the National Law or Regulations
Complaints from families regarding children’s health, safety, or wellbeing

📍 Where to go: This is typically your state or territory’s education department or equivalent early childhood regulatory authority.

🕒 When: Serious incidents must usually be reported within 24 hours.

Child Protection Concerns

Report to: Your State or Territory Child Protection Agency

This includes:

Suspected abuse or neglect of a child
Reasonable belief or suspicion that a child is at risk of significant harm

💡 Mandatory reporting obligations vary by state—both in who must report and what must be reported. Know your local laws.

If the concern involves an educator or carer:

If you witness, or are informed by a credible witness, that an educator or carer has harmed a child, you must report it to:

Your State’s Child Protection Agency
The Police
Your State’s Regulatory Authority

This triple-reporting process ensures child safety, legal accountability, and service-level oversight.

Who to contact by state/territory:

NSW: Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)
VIC: Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)
QLD: Department of Child Safety or Queensland Police (depending on concern)
SA: Department for Child Protection (DCP)
WA: Department of Communities – Mandatory Reporting Service
TAS: Child Safety Services
NT: Territory Families – Central Intake Team
ACT: Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS)

Use each agency’s hotline or online reporting portal. Reports should be made as soon as possible.

Unfair Workplace Practices

Report to: Fair Work Commission or Fair Work Ombudsman

For concerns like:

Unpaid hours or incorrect wages
Unfair dismissal
Workplace bullying or discrimination

📍 Visit fairwork.gov.au to submit a complaint or seek guidance.

Not Sure Who to Report To?

Ask yourself:

“Is this about a child’s safety or wellbeing at home or in the community?” → Child Protection Agency (and Police & Regulatory Authority , if involving witnessed abuse by a staff member or carer)