Why online safety is now at the heart of child protection

In 2025, the conversation about child safety has expanded beyond physical environments. With children’s lives increasingly supported and documented through digital tools, online safety is now a core part of safeguarding in education, care, and disability services.

The National Quality Framework (NQF) reforms, effective from 1 September 2025, require services to introduce stronger safeguards. By 1 January 2026, child safety and protection will be explicitly embedded in the National Quality Standard (NQS). To support this, ACECQA has released the NQF Child Safe Culture Guide and the NQF Online Safety Guide, designed to help providers implement safe practices in a digital world.

But here’s the key: compliance is the minimum standard. Families expect services to go further, demonstrating a culture of online safety that builds confidence and trust.

What’s changing under the NQF reforms?

From 1 September 2025, services will be required to:

• Report allegations of physical or sexual abuse within 24 hours, instead of the previous 7-day timeframe .
• Ensure environments are free from vaping devices and substances, alongside tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs .
• Have policies and procedures for the safe use of digital technologies, including CCTV .

From 1 January 2026, refinements to the NQS will further embed child safety, including:

• Renaming Element 2.2.3 to “Child safety and protection”.
• Updating Element 7.1.2 to clarify leadership responsibilities for creating and maintaining child-safe environments .

Why online safety is more than just compliance

Policies and procedures are essential, but genuine protection comes from a culture of awareness and accountability. Compliance alone doesn’t prevent staff from using casual messaging apps or storing photos on personal devices.

To build genuine trust, services need to:

• Raise staff awareness about digital risks.
• Provide clear, practical processes for daily use.
• Keep families informed and engaged on how their child’s digital information is managed.
• Ensure transparency in data handling and access.

This shift from policy to practice is what makes services truly child-safe in the digital age.

Four core areas every service must address

1. Device Management
   • Prefer service-issued devices with secure settings.
   • Limit or prohibit personal device use for service communications.
2. Consent and Media Use
   • Follow ACECQA guidance by obtaining parent/guardian consent before taking or sharing images or recordings.
   • Regularly update consent records to reflect changing family preferences.
3. Messaging and Apps
   • Discourage or ban unmonitored apps like WhatsApp or Messenger.
   • Use secure, auditable platforms (such as Diversity Sync’d) for shift notes, incident reporting, and communication.
4. CCTV and Digital Monitoring
   • Position and use cameras responsibly.
   • Establish clear policies on access, storage, and review processes.

Practical steps services can take now

With the September 2025 deadline approaching, providers should:

• Audit existing digital practices and identify gaps.
• Update policies and procedures in line with ACECQA’s new guides.
• Train staff so policies are consistently followed, not just filed away.
• Communicate clearly with families, using plain language and easy-to-access consent forms.
• Adopt technology that reduces reliance on personal devices and builds compliance into everyday workflows.

From compliance to confidence

Digital safety is now inseparable from child safety. By moving beyond compliance and embedding safe digital practices into everyday culture, services can protect children, reassure families, and meet the highest standards of governance.

At Diversity Sync’d, we help organisations manage compliance seamlessly with secure tools for rostering, shift notes, and incident reporting - giving providers confidence that their systems meet both the regulatory requirements and the expectations of families.