CCS Advisory Panel Expression of Interest

What is the Childcare Cleaning Standard (CCS)?

The Childcare Cleaning Standard (CCS) is Australia's first governance framework designed specifically for the cleaning workforce in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. Developed by Lindsay Smith, the CCS defines role clarity, training standards, and accountability mechanisms that separate cleaning responsibilities from educator duties — freeing educators to focus on pedagogy and child development.

The CCS is grounded in evidence-based research, with 5 DOI-registered publications (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18095837) and a 12-week pilot validation study planned in partnership with Macquarie University for July–September 2026.

The framework addresses a critical gap: the 2026 National Quality Framework (NQF) strengthened child safety language but left operational cleaning governance undefined. CCS fills that gap with structured role definitions, ECEC-specific training pathways, and auditable compliance mechanisms.

Why an Advisory Panel?

As CCS moves from framework design into pilot validation and regulatory engagement, independent oversight is essential. The CCS Advisory Panel provides:

• Independent governance — Ensuring the framework is developed with rigour, transparency, and sector-wide credibility
• Cross-sector expertise — Bringing together voices from academia, operations, workforce advocacy, health and safety, and regulation
• Stakeholder confidence — Demonstrating to regulators, funders, and partners that CCS is governed by more than its author
• Quality assurance — Providing expert review of pilot design, evidence interpretation, and policy recommendations

The Advisory Panel is a voluntary, consultative body. It does not hold decision-making authority over CCS operations but provides formal recommendations that are documented and considered in all major decisions.

What You Would Contribute

Advisory Panel members are invited to:

• Review and provide feedback on pilot design, research instruments, and evidence outputs
• Advise on regulatory alignment, sector communication, and stakeholder engagement strategy
• Attend quarterly virtual meetings (approximately 1–1.5 hours per session)
• Provide written input on key documents when circulated between meetings (estimated 1–2 hours per quarter)
• Champion the CCS within your professional networks where appropriate

Estimated time commitment: 4–6 hours per quarter.

Current Panel Members

• Alex Barritt — Commercial cleaning industry expertise.
• Alex Barrett is a senior leader within AMC Cleaning and a member of the CCS Advisory Panel. His contribution includes industry insight into cleaning workforce structures, operational feasibility, and implementation considerations for large‑scale deployment. AMC Cleaning provides practical workforce and industry context to support the CCS pilot’s operational modelling and real‑world applicability.
• Sofie Smith- Certificate III in training Educator
• As an early‑career educator completing her Certificate III, she brings essential frontline insight into how role overload, training disruption, and operational drift are experienced at the entry point of the profession. Her perspective ensures the Advisory Panel remains grounded in the lived realities of the workforce most affected by unclear role boundaries and supports the validation of a workforce model that is practical, sustainable, and genuinely workable for educators in training.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking expressions of interest from professionals with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

We welcome expressions of interest from across Australia. Diversity of geography, service type, and professional background strengthens the Panel's credibility and relevance.

What You Receive

• Formal acknowledgement as a CCS Advisory Panel member in all public-facing CCS documents and publications
• Early access to pilot findings, evidence reports, and policy drafts
• Opportunity to contribute to a sector-first governance initiative with national implications
• Professional development through cross-sector collaboration and exposure to emerging ECEC policy
• A reference letter or statement of contribution on request

This is a voluntary, unpaid advisory role. Travel is not required — all meetings are conducted virtually.

Current Status and Timeline

Selection Process

Expressions of interest will be reviewed by Lindsay Smith (CCS Framework Developer). Selection decisions are made based on the criteria below, with a focus on building a balanced, credible, and independent panel. 

Relevant expertise — Demonstrated experience in one or more of the areas listed above 

Independence — No direct commercial interest in CCS outcomes (to maintain advisory credibility)

Sector diversity — Panel composition will aim for balanced representation across academia, operations, advocacy, health and safety, and regulation 

Availability — Ability to commit to quarterly meetings and periodic document review 

All applicants will be notified of the outcome by mid-May 2026.

Learn more