Children are photographed, filmed, and connected earlier than any generation before. That’s wonderful for celebrating learning and keeping families in the loop—but it also raises real risks around privacy, consent, storage, and misuse. Australia’s early childhood regulators and governments have introduced a National Model Code for Taking Images or Videos of Children while providing ECEC, alongside guidelines for safe use of digital technologies. The headline? Personal devices are out; consent and secure systems are in. 

This article explains what the Model Code and companion guidance mean for your family—so you know exactly how your child’s images and data should be protected.

The Model Code in a nutshell

• No personal devices. Staff must not use personal phones, tablets, cameras, smartwatches, or USBs to take/store images or videos of children while providing education and care. Services should provide approved devices. 

• Clear consent. Parents/guardians give granular consent (e.g., internal documentation only; newsletters; password-protected apps; public social media—often No by default). Consent is revisited and easily withdrawn. 

• Secure storage and transfer. Images are stored on service-approved systems, with controlled access, retention periods, and deletion protocols. No ad-hoc cloud accounts or staff laptops at home. 

• Training and audit. Services train staff on safe digital practice and audit compliance. Providers are expected to align their policies and practices to the Code and Guidelines. 

Regulators are actively reinforcing these expectations across jurisdictions, and quality frameworks now reference the Code when assessing digital safety practice. 

What good looks like (from a parent’s perspective)

1. On enrolment, you receive a photo/video consent form in plain English with tick-box options and examples (e.g., “Learning apps for families only”).

2. At the service, you’ll notice staff reaching for service-issued tablets/cameras, not their personal phones.

3. In communications, children’s full names aren’t paired with images in public spaces; group shots are preferred for marketing, if allowed.

4. In the policy, you’ll see rules on storage location, who has access, how long images are kept, and how to request deletion—plus sanctions for breaches.

5. In practice, there’s a routine check: devices are signed in/out, images are uploaded to approved systems daily, and personal devices stay in lockers.

If you spot a staff member filming on a personal phone, it’s not awkward to ask; it’s safeguarding.

How this connects to child-safe culture

The Model Code isn’t just “IT hygiene.” It flows directly from the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (Principle 8: safe online environments) and from broader child-safety reforms post-Royal Commission. Policies that constrain devices, embed consent, and secure data are child-safety practices, not admin tasks. 

Cultural safety matters here, too. For some families (e.g., kinship care, families escaping violence, or Aboriginal communities with specific image protocols), how images are taken and shared is not a minor detail; it’s safety and respect. Services should discuss cultural image protocols and incorporate them—don’t wait for families to chase. 

Practical tips for parents

• Set your preferences clearly. Use the consent form to say exactly what you’re comfortable with (e.g., “OK for private app, not OK for social media”). Revisit anytime. 

• Ask about storage. Where are images kept? Who can see them? For how long? Look for service-issued systems with role-based access. 

• Model digital consent at home. Before posting photos of your child’s friends, ask their families. Teach your child: “My body, my rules—even in photos.”

• Use Protective Behaviours language online. “Stop it, I don’t like it” works for bullying or unwanted image sharing; “I can talk to someone I trust” is the action step.

• Know the escalation pathway. If a breach occurs, expect a formal response: incident record, family notification, corrective action, and (if needed) report to the regulator. 

A word on school-age tech use

As children move into school and sport, the same principles apply: minimal personal device capture, clear consent, safe platforms, and parent partnership. Services that publicly commit to aligning with the Model Code signal strong digital safety culture. 

The National Model Code and allied guidance make digital safety tangible: service devices only; explicit consent; secure systems; trained people; and transparent processes. When these are in place, families can enjoy the magic of shared learning moments—without compromising privacy or safety. 

Watch a short video by the national body for safety in early childhood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swtyKZM4oU0