Why CCTV is fast becoming a compliance necessity in childcare
Keeping children safe has always been at the heart of early learning. Families place their trust in centres every day, and it’s our job as an industry to make sure that trust is honoured. For many years, CCTV has been seen as an extra layer of security. But with recent changes from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and a new national trial starting later this year, CCTV is quickly moving into the space of compliance and necessity.
What’s changing
From 1 September 2025, ACECQA requires all services to include CCTV and other surveillance devices in their policies and procedures. This is part of a broader focus on how digital technologies are used safely in early learning.
At the same time, the federal government has committed $189 million to a trial of CCTV in up to 300 childcare centres, expected to begin in October–November 2025. The trial will explore important questions like:
Where cameras should be placed
How footage is stored and who can access it
How long recordings should be kept
What protections are needed to safeguard children and families
The message is clear – CCTV is becoming a key part of building safe, transparent, and compliant childcare services.
What this means for centre owners and directors
For those leading centres, this shift means CCTV can’t just sit in the background anymore. It needs to be part of your everyday safety culture. Services will be expected to:
Use service-owned devices, not personal phones or tablets, for capturing images and video
Store footage securely, with clear access controls
Set and follow retention timeframes for recordings
Communicate openly with families and gain their consent
Connect CCTV into staff training, reporting, and overall child safety practices
These steps are no longer optional. They are becoming part of how quality and compliance are measured.
Make it easier with our free checklist
We know these changes can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already managing so many moving parts in your service. To help, we’ve created a simple Free Childcare Safety Checklist you can download and use as a guide. It covers the steps to take toward strengthening your centre’s safety and compliance.
Download the Childcare CCTV Compliance Checklist
How we can support you
At Childcare Security Services, we design and monitor CCTV systems specifically for early learning. We know the sector, and we understand the challenges directors face when trying to balance compliance, safety, and community expectations.
Our solutions are built to give you confidence through:
Secure, encrypted storage with audit trails and retention settings
24/7 monitoring and health checks, so your cameras are always working when you need them
Support tools for families, including consent templates and guidance to make communication simple and transparent
The reassurance that your CCTV is not only keeping children, staff, and families safe, but also helping you meet national requirements
Looking ahead
The government trial will help shape what future CCTV use looks like across the country, but one thing is certain – the role of CCTV in childcare is growing. Acting now gives your service the chance to stay ahead, ease the compliance burden, and continue to build trust with families.
Childcare Security Services is here to support you every step of the way with solutions that are practical, reliable, and made for early learning environments.