The Sector Connect + ECEC Compliance and Risk Forum 2027
Description
Back to basics: Revisiting Compliance and Risk in Contemporary ECEC settings
The early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector continues to navigate an evolving landscape of regulatory expectations, operational challenges and increasing responsibilities for children’s safety, wellbeing and quality outcomes.
The Sector Connect + ECEC Compliance & Risk Forum 2027 brings together early childhood professionals, service leaders, approved providers, compliance specialists and sector stakeholders for a timely and practical exploration of the foundations of compliance and risk management in contemporary ECEC settings.
Under the theme Back to basics: Revisiting Compliance and Risk in Contemporary ECEC settings, the forum will revisit the essential principles, everyday practices and leadership responsibilities that underpin safe, compliant and high-quality early learning environments. It will provide an opportunity to build on the highly successful 2026 Forum and reflect on current approaches, strengthen understanding of regulatory obligations, identify emerging risks whilst considering how effective systems and consistent practices can translate into meaningful improvements across services.
Through shared insights, practical discussion and sector connection, the forum aims to support professionals to move beyond simply meeting requirements and towards embedding a proactive culture of compliance, accountability and continuous improvement.
Whether you are leading a service, supporting teams, overseeing compliance or working directly with children and families, the forum offers an opportunity to reconnect with the fundamentals, exchange perspectives and strengthen the collective capability of the ECEC sector.
Join us in 2027 as we return to the essentials, challenge our thinking and build greater confidence in managing compliance and risk in today’s early childhood education and care environments.
Program
The State of the ECEC Sector - Where are we now and where are we going?
A high-level opening keynote examining the forces shaping the ECEC sector in 2027. Key themes: What has changed since the 2025 Owners & Landlords Forum? Is the market becoming easier or harder to operate in? Where is growth still available? What are the biggest risks facing owners? What separates resilient operators from vulnerable ones? What should owners be watching over the next 12–24 months? Speaker: Jason Roberts, Founder & CEO - Sector Publishing.
Policy in Practice: Taking stock after a period of unprecedented change
Where are we after a long period of unprecedented change. This opening conversation will bring together key voices in the policy space to provide perspective on where the sector has been, what has changed, and where we are now. Delegates will leave with greater confidence about the road ahead, practical insight into what comes next, and a clearer understanding of how to continue building safe, resilient and high-quality services in todays early learning environment.
Taking stock: An operators perspective of what is working and what is not
Every provider has experienced moments that have tested their leadership. The difference is what they learnt from them. This session moves beyond policy and compliance theory to explore the real decisions, challenges and lessons that shape effective leadership in early childhood education and care. Delegates will leave with practical insights they can immediately apply within their own organisations, along with greater confidence to identify risk early, strengthen governance and build cultures of accountability, learning and resilience.
Innovation in managing Compliance Risk - A look into the future
As the sector moves from response into recovery, strong organisations are looking beyond compliance and asking a different question, what and how can we harness the power of tech to stay ahead of our obligations and keep children safe. This panel brings together experts to explore the issues that can impact providers before, during and after a significant event. Delegates will leave with new perspectives, practical considerations and a clearer understanding of the actions they can take today to protect their people, their reputation and the communities they support.
Fireside Chat with a leading ECEC Voice - Leading beyond compliance: building a safer organisation
As expectations around governance and organisational accountability continue to evolve, providers are recognising that compliance alone is not enough. Building safe, high-quality services requires sustained investment in leadership, culture, systems and risk prevention. In this exclusive fireside conversation, our guest will share their approach to strengthening organisational capability, including its investment in specialist safety leadership, governance, workforce capability and risk management. Drawing on practical leadership experience, the discussion will explore how one of Australia’s largest providers is embedding safety beyond compliance, responding to emerging risks, supporting teams through change and building organisational resilience in an increasingly complex operating environment.
FAQs
- Registration
Seats are strictly limited for this in-person event.
Registration includes full-day catering and event materials
Early Bird Tickets are $495 plus GST
Full price Tickets from 1 August 2027 are $545 plus GST
Join 250 early learning professionals for a full day of insight, strategy and sector connection.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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