Designing Childcare Premises for Supervision: ACECQA Guidance (Regulation 115)

In July 2026, ACECQA released national guidance to help providers set up their premises in a way that makes supervision easier. It is called Facilitating Supervision and Child Safety through Building Design, and it sits alongside Regulation 115 of the National Regulations. If you are planning a new service, renovating, or simply looking at your current rooms and yard with fresh eyes, this is worth your attention. Here is what it covers and why it matters right now.

What does Regulation 115 actually require?

Regulation 115 says a centre based service must make sure its premises, including toilets and nappy change areas, are designed and maintained so children can be supervised at all times they are being educated and cared for. In plain terms, the building itself should help your educators see the children, not work against them. Supervision is not only about how many educators you have or how alert they are. It is also about whether the space lets them actually see. A blind corner, a high barrier, or a poorly placed change room can quietly undermine even the most attentive team.

What is in the guidance?

The guidance is practical rather than theoretical. It includes worked examples, 3D renderings, and diagrams that contrast good and poor design, showing how thoughtful layout supports supervision and reduces everyday risks in the environment. It sets out nationally agreed approaches to designing safer spaces, so providers across the country work from the same understanding rather than guessing. ACECQA has also signalled that real case studies, from services that have improved supervision through design changes, may be shared on its We Hear You blog in future.

Why this matters now: the waiver change

Here is the part that makes this more than a nice to have. Under the strengthened child safety reforms, providers can no longer apply for an ongoing service waiver against Regulation 115. In the past, if a building could not fully meet the supervision requirement, a service could seek an ongoing waiver. That door is closing. Temporary waivers may still be possible in some situations, such as while building modifications are underway, but the expectation now is clear: your premises are meant to support supervision, not be excused from it. That shift is exactly why getting the design right matters.

Where building design fits in the bigger picture

It helps to see design as one of three things working together. Supervision is supported by the physical design and upkeep of your premises under Regulation 115, by the everyday supervision practices of your educators, and by meeting your educator to child ratios. Strong supervision needs all three. The best staff in the world struggle in a space that hides children from view, and a well designed room still needs alert educators in it. This guidance simply makes sure the first of the three, the space itself, is pulling its weight.

What should you do with it?

If you are at the planning or renovation stage, read the guidance before you lock in a layout, because design decisions are far cheaper to change on paper than after the concrete is poured. If you already operate, use it as a prompt to walk your own service and look honestly for the blind spots: the corner you cannot see from the main room, the outdoor area that really needs a second educator, the change room tucked out of sight. Share it with your team, because they are the ones who feel where supervision gets hard. This all sits at the heart of Quality Area 2 of the National Quality Standard, and it is one of the clearest ways to strengthen child safety without adding a single new policy document.

Recent events have shown how quickly a supervision gap can turn into a serious incident. Good design will not replace attentive educators, but it makes their job possible, and that is exactly what this guidance is for.

How Childcare Ready can help

At Childcare Ready, we help new and existing providers understand what the regulations expect and how to meet them in practice, including how your physical environment supports compliance. If you are planning a service or reviewing your current one, contact us today.