2026 REGULATORY ROADMAP
KEY STATISTICAL DATA
CCS Consulting is the developer of the Childcare Cleaning Standard (CCS) — an independently benchmarked system infrastructure for operationalising essential support functions within Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC).
Assessed against OECD policy principles, Australian Government frameworks, and ISO-aligned governance standards, CCS has been recognised as an , implementation-ready model for workforce structuring and accountability.
Rather than a cleaning initiative, CCS is a transferable framework designed to define, separate, and govern operational workforces alongside core service delivery. Its first application focuses on cleaning, introducing a dedicated model that removes operational burden from educators while strengthening safety, compliance, and system performance.
CCS INTEGRATION PATHWAY: 2026–2028 ROADMAP
MARCH–APRIL 2026: FOUNDATION PHASE
✓ Pilot recruitment 5–10 services
✓ Stakeholder consultation ACECQA, state regulators, sector peaks
✓ Research Advisory Committee -independent oversight
Outcome: Pilot design finalised, ethics approval confirmed
Status: 🟡 IN PROGRESS (Week of March 29)
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JULY–SEPTEMBER 2026: PILOT IMPLEMENTATION PHASE
✓ 12-week pilot execution across services
✓ Weekly data collection (workload, compliance, illness)
✓ Monthly stakeholder briefings → Outcome: Level II evidence generated (quasi-experimental findings)
Status: 🔴 SCHEDULED (July launch)
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OCTOBER–NOVEMBER 2026: EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS & REGULATORY PROPOSAL
✓ Analyse pilot data (statistical + thematic)
✓ Draft formal policy proposal to ACECQA (20–30 pages)
✓ Develop draft NQF Quality Descriptors for CCS compliance
✓ Design assessor training curriculum → Outcome: Evidence package ready for regulatory submission Status:
🔴 PLANNED (October 2026)
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DECEMBER 2026–MARCH 2027: REGULATORY NEGOTIATION PHASE
✓ Formal submission to ACECQA
✓ Consultation with state regulators (QLD, NSW, VIC, WA, etc.)
✓ Sector stakeholder roundtable (Goodstart, G8, unions, parents)
✓ Draft regulatory amendments to Education & Care Services National Law → Outcome: Policy consensus & regulatory pathway agreed Status:
🔴 PLANNED (December 2026)
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APRIL–JUNE 2027: PHASE 1 ROLLOUT PREPARATION
✓ Assessor training delivery (ACECQA + state trainers)
✓ Implementation support design (grants, RTO partnerships)
✓ Digital platform rollout (CCS Registry, compliance tracking)
→ Outcome: System ready for Phase 1 sector adoption
Status: 🔴 PLANNED (April 2027)
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JULY 2027+: PHASE 1 SECTOR ADOPTION (50 Services)
✓ Early adopter services implement CCS
✓ NQS assessors evaluate CCS compliance during routine visits ✓ Continuous improvement cycle (feedback → framework refinement)
→ Outcome: Evidence of sector-wide feasibility
Status: 🔴 PLANNED (July 2027+)
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KEY REGULATORY DEPENDENCIES:
• ACECQA formal consideration (Q4 2026)
• State regulatory amendment (Q1 2027)
• Federal government support (Department of Education) — Optional but accelerating
• Industry/union co-investment (Goodstart, G8, unions) — Funding + credibility
• MP Melissa McIntosh MP legislative championing (parliamentary support)