Six leading not-for-profit OOSH providers, collectively supporting more than 10,000 children across 120 school communities in NSW, say current minimum staffing requirements need to change and are calling for at least two educators to be physically present whenever children are in care at outside school hours care.
The Y NSW, Wesley Mission, Uniting NSW.ACT, Gowrie NSW, BFS Children's Services and St Nicholas have formed a coalition calling on the NSW Government to make a two-educator model the minimum standard across all OOSH services.
All six NFP providers already roster at least two educators who are physically present at their services at all times, a safeguard they believe should apply across the sector.
The call comes as the NSW Government prepares to respond to the Upper House inquiry into the early childhood education and care sector in NSW. The Committee's report made nine findings and 35 recommendations, including recommending stronger staffing safeguards.
The coalition’s shared position is focused on ensuring at least two educators are rostered and physically present at all times. The NFP providers are urging the Government to use its response to the inquiry to introduce a two-educator minimum across OOSH services in NSW.
The coalition builds on the Prioritising Child Safety campaign launched by the Y NSW in March 2026, which called for stronger safeguards in OOSH. The two-educator model creates:
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Safer environments for children through increased supervision and accountability, reduced opportunities for harm, and stronger safeguards to identify, prevent and respond to risks to children.
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Healthier workplaces for educators through collective responsibility for child safety, enhanced support and accountability across teams, and stronger professional standards.
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Strengthened trust and confidence in the sector through consistent implementation of standards, alignment with community expectations.
The Y NSW CEO Rob Kennaugh said the NFP OOSH Coalition showed this was bigger than any one provider.
“This is bigger than any one organisation, and we're pleased to be strongly aligned with other NFPs. Child safety must always come first, and we want to work constructively with government to prioritise child safety supervision standards across NSW,” Mr Kennaugh said.
Wesley Mission CEO Rev Stu Cameron said child safety should not be dependent on choosing the correct caretakers.
"Child safety should not depend on which OOSH service a family chooses. Wesley Mission already has at least two educators present at every service no matter the number of children present and we believe this should be the minimum standard for every child across NSW," Mr Cameron said.
Uniting NSW.ACT CEO Tracey Burton said everyone needs to work together to prioritise child safety.
"At Uniting Early Learning NSW.ACT, child safety is at the heart of everything we do. We support the two-educator model as an important safeguard that strengthens active supervision, shared accountability and a strong child safe culture where educators work together to keep children safe," Ms Burton said.
Gowrie NSW CEO Nicole Jones echoed that sentiment.
"Gowrie NSW strongly supports this shared commitment to strengthening child safety, alongside our partners across the sector. The safety, wellbeing and rights of children must remain at the centre of every decision we make," Ms Jones said.
"Ensuring appropriate educator presence is an important safeguard, enabling educators to respond effectively to children’s individual needs, maintain safe and well-supervised environments, and plan thoughtfully for children’s learning, wellbeing and participation."
BFS Children's Services CEO Kim Bertino reinforced the importance of the two-educator model.
"Aligned with a focus on child safety, it is timely that this coalition is united in advocating for a two-person model as best practice in the OOSH sector," Ms Bertino said.
St Nicholas Director Mel Hill said the model strengthens responsibility.
"At St Nicholas, we are committed to a child safe environment and maintaining a minimum of two educators at all times is a key safeguard that promotes safety, accountability, and children’s rights to protection, participation, and agency," Ms Hill stated.
It would also introduce a consistent minimum standard across NSW, regardless of which provider a family chooses.
While welcoming recent reforms by the NSW Government, the coalition believes the Government’s response to the Upper House inquiry is an important opportunity to take the next practical step and introduce a two-educator minimum.
About the coalition
The coalition comprises the Y NSW, Wesley Mission, Uniting NSW.ACT, Gowrie NSW, BFS Children's Services and St Nicholas. Together, the six not-for-profit providers support more than 10,000 children across 120 school communities in NSW.
All six already operate a two-educator model, with at least two educators rostered and physically present at their OOSH services at all times.
Media Contact: Jeanette Lasorsa, media@ymcansw.org.au, 0427 759 502.
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