The Y NSW has launched its statewide Prioritising Child Safety campaign, calling for stronger supervision standards across Outside School Hours Care in NSW.

With a clear focus on introducing a two-educator minimum at all times, the campaign highlights a simple yet powerful step toward safer, more responsive care environments for children.

Here's everything you need to know about the campaign - and how you can help!

Prioritising Child Safety: The Y NSW Calls for Stronger OSHC Standards

For many families, Outside School Hours Care, commonly known as OSHC. is part of the daily rhythm, providing care for primary school-aged children before school, after school and during holidays.

It is where kids start and finish their day, burn off energy and build friendships. Behind the scenes, these services are fast-paced environments where educators juggle multiple responsibilities at once: arrivals, departures, indoor and outdoor play, behaviour support, first aid and the occasional unexpected moment that needs quick action.

These services are a lifeline for busy families, but it is a lot to manage, and when only one educator is present, the pressure ramps up significantly.

Current regulations allow just one educator to supervise up to 15 children. In real-world settings with multiple spaces and constant movement, that can stretch supervision thin.

Why a Two-Educator Model Improves Child Safety in OSHC

At the heart of The Y NSW Prioritising Child Safety campaign is a clear solution: a minimum of two educators on every shift across all OSHC services.

The core message is simple: Two educators are safer than one.

A two-educator model strengthens:

• Supervision with more eyes across multiple spaces

• Responsiveness when incidents or emergencies occur

• Accountability through shared responsibility

• Support for educators working in busy, fast-paced environments

It is a practical safeguard that helps ensure children are consistently seen, supported and protected.

Child Safety in OSHC Matters More Than Ever

One of the biggest challenges facing OSHC today is inconsistency. Supervision and staffing standards can vary from one service to another, creating uneven safety practices across the sector.

Recent insights from the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority reinforce the need for stronger safeguards, with findings indicating that more needs to be done to improve supervision and child safety frameworks.

The Y NSW is calling for clear, consistent regulations that remove ambiguity and set a higher baseline for care.

The Y NSW is Leading The Way For Child Safety Reform in OSHC

This is not just a call for change. The Y NSW already operates with a two-educator supervision model across its services, demonstrating that this approach is both achievable and effective.

By advocating for this to become standard practice, the organisation is pushing for meaningful reform that aligns with what families already assume is in place.

Importantly, The Y NSW has acknowledged past safeguarding failures and expressed regret to victim-survivors. This campaign is part of a broader commitment to accountability and continuous improvement. It is a forward-focused step aimed at ensuring safer environments for all children, now and into the future.

Why This Matters for Families

For parents, peace of mind is everything! Knowing that your child is supervised by more than one educator at all times is not just reassuring, it is a reasonable expectation.

The Prioritising Child Safety campaign is about turning that expectation into a consistent reality across the sector.

Because when it comes to kids, safety should never be negotiable.

How Families and Communities Can Get Involved

Real change does not happen in isolation. The Y NSW is inviting parents, carers, educators and community members to support the campaign by signing a public pledge.

By adding your voice, you are helping push for stronger regulations and safer standards across all OSHC services in NSW.

If your child attends before or after-school care, this campaign needs you! Find out more about the Prioritising Child Safety campaign and join the movement advocating for safer care.

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