At present, “under the roof” ratios are not yet formally abolished in law, but Education Ministers announced in February 2026 that they intend to remove this practice. ACECQA has flagged that ratios will soon be required per room, with educators counted only when physically prese...
On July 15, educators are once again being called to walk off the job, demanding a 15% wage increase. It’s a familiar rallying cry, one we’ve heard in previous years, with little lasting change. Yet while wages matter, the governm...
Every time a shocking case of child abuse surfaces, the sector braces for another wave of reactionary policies. Device bans, endless training modules, and compliance paperwork pile up on educators who already uphold professional s...
Education Minister Jess Walsh has announced today that the government is banning the unsafe business practice of misuse of “under-the-roofline” ratios. For many educators, this statement feels like a long-awaited victory. Yet the...
At the end of 2026, the early childhood sector is still waiting for ratio reform. Despite years of advocacy, despite mounting evidence, and despite repeated calls from educators, families, and sector leaders, ratios remain unchang...
Children need safe and positive environments to learn and grow. To ensure this, services and educators need to ensure effective supervision at all times. The following article provides information on the different aspects of super...
As 2026 winds down, educators across Australia are asking the same question they’ve been asking all year: Why haven’t ratios been addressed?
Despite months of advocacy, countless submissions, and direct feedback from the floor, t...
Educator ratios must be upheld at all times, including during care tasks unless supervision is compromised, in which case coverage is legally required. Here’s a guide to help educators understand their rights and responsibilities...
In early childhood education, ratios are more than numbers. They are the heartbeat of safety, connection, and quality care. Yet across Australia, educators are sounding the alarm: current ratios are failing both children and staff...
In the wake of child abuse allegations and the rollout of policies like Four Eyes, early childhood educators are being asked to be more present, more vigilant, and more accountable. But presence alone is not enough. True safeguard...
In early childhood education, two terms often surface in compliance conversations: active supervision and in ratio. While both are essential to child safety and regulatory integrity, they serve distinct purposes—and conflating the...
A: Legally, yes—an educator is considered “in ratio” as long as they are physically present and supervising the required number of children according to the age-based ratios set by the National Quality Framework (NQF). But practic...
Across the early childhood education and care sector, educators are sounding the alarm: current staffing ratios are insufficient to deliver safe, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate care. While recent reforms have focused...
In early childhood education, minimum ratios is one of the most insidious drivers of burnout across the sector. When minimum standards become maximum limits, educators are expected to absorb overwhelming cognitive and emotional lo...
In early childhood education and care, ratios are more than a technicality—they are a frontline safeguard. Every child deserves responsive supervision, emotional connection, and developmental support. Yet in Australia, the current...
Across Australia, regulated staffing ratios aim to safeguard children in early learning settings. However, a growing number of incidents reveal that meeting these minimum requirements on paper doesn’t always translate into active,...
The “under the roof” rule allows childcare centres to meet staffing ratios by counting all educators on-site, regardless of whether they are physically present in rooms with children. This means a centre may appear compliant on pa...
The term "under the roof ratios" refers to how educator-to-child ratios are calculated. Instead of calculating ratios for individual rooms, the ratios are calculated across the entire service. This means that educators must be wor...
The Staff Ratios and Adequate Supervision information, for NSW early childhood services, has been revised and updated by the NSW Regulatory Authority, NSW Department Of Education.
