Council to contribute to State Inquiry into early childhood sector

Published on 19 November 2025

Council will make a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Victoria’s Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector; which was establised in July 2025 following allegations of child abuse in the sector.

City of Maribyrnong Mayor, Cr Pradeep Tiwari, said Council is committed to advocating for a safe, high-quality early years sector for local families.

“We want every child to be safe and supported. Our submission highlights the need for stronger oversight, clear accountability and better transparency so families can have confidence in the services caring and educating for their children,” Mayor Tiwari said.

The Committee is examining safety and quality standards, workforce conditions, training and oversight, and the regulation of Victoria’s mostly privatised ECEC system. Council’s input will help shape the Committee’s final report and recommendations to the Victorian Parliament.

While Council does not directly run ECEC services, it owns eight long day care centres and 14 sessional kindergartens, managed by not-for-profit providers or Committees of Management under lease and service agreements.

The submission recommends:

• a mix of service providers to give families real choice
• stronger regulation of workforce conditions and staff-to-child ratios
• demonstrated alignment with national standards to ensure consistency and fairness
• improved Department of Education oversight, including clearer consequences for non-compliance and more frequent audits
• better transparency, including timely reporting of incidents and clear communication with families.

Maribyrnong News

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