About the Early Learning Commission
The NSW Early Learning Commission began operation as the independent regulator for early childhood education and care (ECEC) in New South Wales on 1 December 2025.
We are responsible for regulating over 6,000 ECEC services across NSW to ensure they meet stringent standards of safety, quality, and compliance.
We oversee these services to protect children’s health, safety and development through rigorous, ongoing assessments and compliance monitoring.
Our commitment
The Early Learning Commission is dedicated to driving quality, safety, compliance and community confidence across the NSW ECEC sector.
We place the safety, wellbeing, rights and best interests of children at the very centre of every decision and action.
Our role and priorities
Reporting directly to the Minister for Education and Early Learning, the Early Learning Commission focuses on:
- implementing NSW-specific and national reforms designed to strengthen regulatory practices and enhance child safety across the sector
- providing clear, accessible regulatory information to support parents and carers in making informed decisions regarding their children’s early learning and care
- collaborating closely with agencies such as NSW Police, the Office of the Children’s Guardian, and the Department of Communities and Justice to investigate serious incidents and concerns affecting children’s health, safety, and wellbeing
- assessing applications for provider and service approvals, including applying rigorous checks to prevent unsuitable providers entering the sector
- assessing and rating the quality of services against the National Quality Standard to provide parents with accurate information about the quality of services
- enforcing compliance of the National Law and Regulation in NSW through transparent and proportionate regulatory action.
On 1 December 2025, a Ministerial Charter Letter was sent to the Acting Commissioner, NSW Early Learning Commission outlining the expectations for the Commission as it takes shape.
Transparency and accountability
Transparency is fundamental to our work. We are committed to openness in all our regulatory processes, providing families, providers, and the wider community with accessible information about service quality and regulatory decisions.
Through firm and fair regulatory oversight, the NSW Early Learning Commission ensures every child in NSW experiences safe, high-quality early childhood education and care, safeguarding their wellbeing and future.
Our team
The NSW Early Learning Commission is led by a team of experienced professionals dedicated to child safety, education quality, and effective regulatory governance. Our team brings together expertise from education, child protection, law enforcement, and community engagement to ensure comprehensive oversight of the ECEC sector.
Together, our team is united by a shared commitment to protect children’s wellbeing and uphold the highest standards in early childhood education and care across New South Wales.