New Childcare Reforms Highlight Urgent Need for Electrical Compliance

Childcare providers across Western Australia are under increased scrutiny as new National Child Safety Reforms and Labour‑supported funding conditions roll out from September 2025 and January 2026. Facilities that fail to meet key compliance obligations—across both safety and operational areas—now face the very real risk of having their funding withdrawn.

While much of the public focus has been on high‑profile updates like 24‑hour incident reporting, vape bans, and digital safety reforms, there’s been less attention on the everyday safety standards that facilities are expected to maintain—including electrical testing and tagging, RCD testing, and fire equipment servicing in line with Australian Standards.

These aren’t new requirements—but in the current compliance climate, non-compliance can now carry greater consequences. At Perth Test and Tag Solutions, we’re helping WA childcare centres stay on track with testing requirements under AS/NZS 3760, AS/NZS 3012, AS 1851, and AS 2293, ensuring they remain both safe and funding-eligible.

1. Electrical Appliance Testing - ASNZS 3760/2022

Testing and Tagging in Perth & WA is legally required for childcare facilities, this is legislated via:

• Children (Education and Care Services) National Law (WA) Act 2012 (CECSWNL Act) section 167 - Protection from Harm and Hazards “The approved provider… must ensure that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and from any hazard likely to cause injury.”

• WHS Act 2022 - Regulation 150 - Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment

  Testing and tagging in Perth & WA is typically required every 12 months for childcare facilities. You can find out more about testing & testing here.

  2.Residual Current Device (RCD) Testing (Perth & WA)

  RCD Testing Perth & WA is legally required by childcare facilities via:

• CECSWNL Act section 167 - Protection from Harm and Hazards “The approved provider… must ensure that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and from any hazard likely to cause injury.”

• WHS Act 2022 - Section 165 - Testing of Residual Current Devices - RCDs must be:

  • Regularly tested by a competent person

  • Records of testing kept until the next test or removal of the device

    If you would like to find out more about RCD Testing including periodic intervals of testing we recommend you visit our page on here on - RCD Testing Perth

    3. Exit & Emergency Lighting Testing Perth & WA

    Exit and emergency lighting testing is a requirement through ensuring a safe passage of exit on the case of emergency. The testing involves a 90 minute discharge test that assesses the exit fittings capacity to stay illuminated for the entirety of the discharge test. Under AS2293, emergency lighting requires to be tested biannually. The requirements for testing emergency lighting fall within the below:

  • CECSWNL Act section 167 - Protection from Harm and Hazards “The approved provider… must ensure that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and from any hazard likely to cause injury.”

  • WHS Act 2022 - Section 19 – Primary duty of care

  • WHS Act 2022 - Regulation 43 – Duty to prepare, maintain and implement emergency plans