A nationwide watchdog could soon be on the cards for the country's childcare sector in a bid to improve safety for children.
Education Minister Jason Clare said a national early education and care commission will be top of the agenda when state and territory ministers meet in July.
Calls for reform of the sector have been amplified after Victorian childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown was charged with sexually abusing eight children under the age of two, while separate allegations have also been made against childcare staff in other states.
A commission would provide oversight of safety and enforce regulations across the sector, following concerns of jurisdictions having different standards in place, according to Mr Clare.
It would also help in locating childcare services where they are most needed by families, he said.
In its 2024 report into childcare, the Productivity Commission recommended that a national watchdog be implemented.
"Childcare is an essential service for more than one million Australian families. We've cut the cost, we're also driving big reforms to improve access and safety," Mr Clare said.
"This is the next potential step to drive long-term reform."
Moves to set up the watchdog coincide with measures to create a national childcare worker register and mandatory safety training for educators, as well as a trial of CCTV in some centres.
Chief executive of The Parenthood Georgie Dent said a national commission would be welcomed.
"Families are entitled to expect the provision of early childhood education and care that meets the needs of the community, with strong national standards, clear accountability and robust monitoring in place across all providers," she said.
"This is about safety, quality and rebuilding trust in a system that millions of families rely on."
United Workers Union early education director Carolyn Smith said a national model was needed after disparate approaches across jurisdictions.
"We have consistently welcomed regulatory changes designed to make the system safer for children, and we believe significant improvements have been made on child safety nationally," she said.
"Anything that promises to further improve national standards and increase regulatory certainty will be welcomed by our members, who are doing a job they love to give children and families the quality education and care they deserve."
