enforcement - regulating for quality outcomes for children
In August 2008, the NSW Government announced it would make it easier for parents to make informed decisions about the children’s services they choose.
Parents can be assured that the majority of services provide safe, high quality and well-regulated education and care for children.
This website provides parents with background on services so they can assess whether they have met the high standards expected and laid out by the NSW Government.
Community Services works with all service providers to make them aware of the requirements of the legislation and regulation.
Services are monitored regularly and Community Services formally notifies providers of breaches of NSW children’s services laws and require all breaches to be rectified.
Community Services preference is to work with children’s services providers to get problems fixed quickly.
Where stronger action has to be taken, Community Services is committed to making information about this available to parents, the community and industry.
what information is available?
This website provides details of the Licensees that:
- have been convicted for offences under the NSW’s children’s services legislation and had that conviction recorded and penalties imposed by the court
- had action taken by Community Services to suspend, revoke, or refuse to grant a further licence
- had additional conditions placed on their licence by Community Services
- the Chief Executive of Community Services has had reason to believe is committing offences and so informed parents of children enrolled in the service that it was inadvisable for the children to continue to attend the service.
See the listing of enforcement actions.
when is the information made available?
Information is provided on this website related to convictions under the Children’s Services Regulation 2004 since September 2004 and for any major licence changes or events since 1 July 2007.
This information will be displayed on this website when all court, tribunal or administrative action is finalised and any appeal processes have been concluded.
The Licensee and Service records displayed on this site will be kept on the site for a period of three years from the date that the information is first posted.
If information is removed after three years and then a Licensee has further action taken against them by the Department related to the same service, the previous information regarding the service will be reinstated on the website.
what is a licensee?
The licensee of a children’s service is the person or organisation in whose name a licence is issued.
The licensee is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the children’s service is properly run and complies with the Act and Regulation.
Under the Regulation, licensees of children’s services must meet requirements relating to:
- the facilities and equipment provided
- staffing
- the number of children to whom care is provided
- operational matters
- administration of the children’s service
how do I know whether the children’s service is still managed by the same people?
Children’s services can be bought and sold similar to many other businesses, but children’s services licences are not transferable.
This means that if someone new wants to operate an existing children’s service they must apply for their own licence and be assessed by Community Services.
The ‘Licensee’ named is the person or organisation holding the licence for the service at the time of the action taken.
The ‘Service’ is the name of the children’s service that appeared on the licence at the time of the action taken.
Where the licensee of a service has changed since the action was taken by Community Services, that is also noted.
If you are not sure who is the current licensee of a children’s service that you use, ask the service to show you the licence for the service.
The licence names the person or organisation that is granted the licence.
By law the licences must be displayed at all times in a prominent place that is accessible to parents of children attending the service.
further information about the licensing and regulation of childrens’ services
- Guide to children's services licensing
- regulation of children's services
- choosing child care for your child
- types of child care
