On 5 August 2026, Victoria amended the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 to legally recognise First Nations peoples’ unique status and rights and support self-determination in education.
The changes are now part of the law that governs education in Victoria across:
- early childhood education
- schools
- vocational education training
- adult, community and further education.
The changes support Victoria’s commitment to improving cultural safety and self-determination. They also affirm work underway, including through Marrung 2026–2036, Victoria’s First Nations education strategy.
The changes also support Victorian Child Safe Standard 1.
About the changes
The Act now includes:
- a new Statement of Recognition that acknowledges First Nations people, histories and cultures in education
- new principles that every person and organisation in the sector must consider and apply in their role. These relate to:
- the importance of self-determination to improving learning and wellbeing outcomes for First Nations learners
- the need for the education system to recognise, respect and support the cultural rights, and the right to cultural safety, of First Nations people
- First Nations histories, cultures (including languages) and perspectives being an important and core part of learning
- preventing, identifying and responding to racism experienced by First Nations people as a priority
- the role of the education system in addressing the historic and ongoing structural, systemic and interpersonal biases and educational inequities experienced by First Nations people
- the role of the education system in supporting First Nations language reclamation and revitalisation as led by the First Nations community.
- a new requirement for the department’s Secretary to consult First Nations representatives on policies and measures that relate to First Nations education or learners
- confirmation that First Nations histories, cultures and perspectives are part of the school curriculum
- new definitions to support the changes. This includes a revised definition of ‘parent’ to include First Nations kinship systems.
There will also be a new requirement for the department’s Secretary to make Aboriginal cultural understanding training available to all Victorian education workforces. This amendment starts on Sunday 1 August 2027 to allow time to develop training.
The changes were developed with representatives from:
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
- early childhood associations
- principals’ associations
- the Australian Education Union
- the training sector.
This involvement ensures the changes reflect First Nations community aspirations and can be implemented.
What the changes mean for early childhood services
The changes apply to everyone working in Victoria’s education system. This includes corporate, administrative and frontline staff.
The early childhood workforce should familiarise themselves with the amendments. In particular, staff groups are encouraged to read and discuss the new principles and how they will meet the requirements. Please read this fact sheet for guidance about the new principles and what they mean.
The amendments do not represent a change in education policy. They embed in law Victoria’s existing commitments to recognising First Nations people supporting their self-determination in education.
Resources and support for early childhood professionals
The following resources are available on the department’s website:
- Early childhood education programs supporting Aboriginal children
- Early Years Engagement Program supporting culturally safe and inclusive kindergarten environments
- Child care and kindergarten services operated by and for First Nations communities.
Professional learning is available to support education staff to strengthen culturally safe and inclusive practice. To access training, refer to the Bringing Change Together: First Nations Learning Suite.
The Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated website also has resources for early childhood services, including:
- Walking Together (PDF, 3 MB) — an inclusion support and protocols resource developed with the Victorian Inclusion Agency
- Early Childhood Activities (PDF, 1.48 MB).
Find out more
To access the Act, refer to: Education and Training Reform Act 2006 on the Victorian Legislation website.
To access Victoria’s new First Nations education strategy, refer to: Marrung 2026–2036.
For more information about Child Safe Standard 1, refer to: Complying with the Child Safe Standards.
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