A childcare centre in New South Wales, publicly rated as “meeting” government standards, was secretly flagged as a “very high risk service” by the Department of Education, according to documents obtained by the Guardian. This revelation highlights a significant gap in the transparency of childcare safety ratings in the state.
The centre, which remains unnamed by Guardian Australia, was placed in the highest risk category following a visit by NSW early childhood regulators in May 2024. This visit was prompted by a complaint, leading to a series of inspections and a year-long scrutiny of the centre’s operations, including monitoring complaints and notifications submitted to the regulator.
The Dual Rating System
The case underscores a critical issue within the NSW childcare system, where publicly available ratings based on the National Quality Framework (NQF) often diverge from the secret risk assessments conducted by the Department of Education. The NQF rating, accessible on government websites, is one of the few resources parents have to assess the quality and safety of childcare services.
Despite passing its NQF assessment in March 2024, the centre was secretly rated as high risk due to numerous notifications, including allegations of child neglect, injuries, staff bullying, understaffing, and an alleged sexual assault by an educator. Most of these notifications were closed without disciplinary action, with only two instances resulting in compliance actions.
Regulatory Changes and Challenges
In August, education ministers agreed on legislative changes requiring the publication of breaches or compliance actions against childcare services. However, these changes apply only to substantiated incidents, not those investigated and closed without regulatory breaches.
The centre has since improved, being removed from the high-risk category after showing progress in 2025. A Department of Education officer noted a decrease in notifications and compliance with reporting obligations, commending the centre for its efforts to “turn things around.”
The Secret Risk Rating System
The existence of a secret risk rating system, known as the RA (risk assessment) risk rating of services (RRS), was highlighted by the Wheeler review of the NSW childcare sector. This review revealed discrepancies between public quality ratings and the RRS, which considers dynamic compliance information.
“The RRS likely provides a better sense of the actual and current risk to the wellbeing of children enrolled in a service,” the review noted, despite its inaccessibility to parents.
The NSW Department of Education explained that the RRS is a state-based assessment tool, while the public rating is national. The risk rating system is used internally to inform assessment timing, visit frequency, and regulatory oversight intensity.
Expert Opinions and Public Concerns
Abigail Boyd, a NSW Greens upper house member and chair of the education committee, criticized the secret system as “sickening,” advocating for transparency to ensure parents have full confidence in their children’s safety. She emphasized that merely disclosing risk ratings is insufficient, calling for systemic improvements to ensure high-quality standards across all services.
“Parents and carers deserve to have the fullest information available to have the confidence their children will be safe,” Boyd stated.
Reports and Incidents at the NSW Childcare Centre
Between April 2024 and April 2025, the centre was subject to 22 notifications, including a child’s disclosure of sexual abuse by an educator, which was investigated and closed without substantiation. Other incidents involved injuries, neglect allegations, and staff complaints, most of which were resolved without regulatory breaches.
The centre’s response to these incidents was deemed appropriate, with improvements in internal processes noted. The Department of Education recommended its removal from the high-risk cohort, highlighting the centre’s progress and commitment to maintaining safety standards.
Looking Forward
The revelation of the secret risk rating system raises questions about transparency and accountability in the NSW childcare sector. As legislative changes unfold, the focus remains on ensuring that all childcare services meet high standards of safety and quality, providing parents with the assurance they need.
The ongoing debate underscores the need for a balanced approach that combines transparency with effective oversight to protect the wellbeing of children across NSW.
