The ACECQA website has a range of information on the assessment and rating process. The first assessments will begin in June 2012. Services that were recently accredited under the former system may not be assessed for some time.

More resources about the Assessment and Rating process are now available on the Resources & Templates page of the ACECQA website.

Authorised officers from each state and territory regulatory authority are responsible for assessing and rating services against the National Quality Standard. The Professional Support Coordinator in your state or territory will also be able to help your service prepare for assessment.

Why do the ratings have to be published?

The state and territory governments of Australia have agreed it is important families are able to make informed choices about education and care for their children. The publication of ratings gives families information about the quality of education and care provided at each service. Publishing ratings also help services to highlight areas where they have performed well. Ratings will be published in the second half of 2012.

Where will the ratings be published?

The ratings will be published on the www.mychild.gov.au and www.acecqa.gov.au websites in the second half of 2012.

When will my next assessment be?

Assessment visits under the National Quality Framework will begin in June 2012. The first step in the rating process is for all services to develop a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). Your regulatory authority will send your service a letter letting you know that the assessment and rating process has started for your service.

All existing providers must develop their QIP by 30 April 2012. Assessment visits will begin in June 2012 so that providers and services have time to get to know the National Quality Standard and prepare for the assessment visit.

The Quality Improvement plan should be submitted to your local regulatory authority. For more information, please see the Quality Improvement Plan FAQs.

I am concerned that my child’s service is not meeting the required standards. Who do I tell?

If you have concerns about a service or centre, please contact your local state or territory regulatory authority who will address and respond to your concerns.

I want to make a complaint about my child’s service. How do I do this?

If you have concerns about a service or centre, please contact your local state or territory regulatory authority who will address and respond to your concerns.

What is the Excellent Rating?

Children's education and care services rated 'Exceeding National Quality Standard' during their assessment will be able to apply for the 'Excellent' rating.

The draft Excellent rating criteria was consulted on by the ACECQA Board in early 2012. A large number of responses were received from individuals and organisations. These submissions are now being reviewed and a consultation report will be published once finalised.

The draft excellent rating criteria is available to read here.

I’m worried that under the new National Law and Regulations I will be subject to fines without being given any warning.

Generally, penalties would only be issued where there is a serious or ongoing issue, and after a complete investigation. Penalties would most likely be issued where a service puts children’s safety, health or wellbeing at risk. There are other options available if providers fail to meet their obligations in a less serious manner, especially if the provider is proactive in fixing the issue. These include advisory visits and guidance, written directions and compliance notices.

Why is a service's history considered in the new assessment and rating system?

The Guide to Assessment and Rating for Regulatory Authorities has details on the type of background information that will be considered:

The National Regulations outlines a service’s compliance history that must be considered when assessing and rating a service (regulation 63). Reviewing a service’s planning and history helps to familiarise authorised officers with background information about the service.

The authorised officer may also consider the following information:

provider approval

service approval

notifications

complaints

investigations

conditions on provider approval or service approval

waivers

inspections

compliance action

other intelligence, and

previous assessment or accreditation visits (where relevant).

This means assessors must consider the service’s history to have a complete view of the current performance. The outcomes of past concerns or complaints can be relevant.

Communications

Is there a number I can call for information?

Please call 1800 181 088 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1800 181 088 end_of_the_skype_highlighting and our team will be happy to help you with your enquiry.

Is there an ACECQA electronic mailing list I can join?

You can subscribe to receive the ACECQA electronic newsletter which has all of the latest news and information.

Compliance

Do I have to display my accreditation certificate from NCAC?

The National Law states that if an education and care service was accredited by the National Childcare Accreditation Council then the service must continue to display that accreditation as well as the provisional rating under the National Quality Framework. If you have misplaced the certificate from NCAC, please email enquiries@acecqa.gov.au with the information below.

It is not possible to access or reprint copies of the NCAC certificates. However, the most recent Composite Quality Profile and a summary of all ratings for you to display at your service will be provided.

In your email please include:

Registered service name
Full service address
Contact phone number
Contact name
Contact email address

Is there a list of information that has to be displayed at a service under the National Regulations?

The information that services have to display is set out in Regulation 173 of the National Regulations.

Is there a list of policies and procedures that services need to have under the National Regulations?

Regulation 168 of the National Regulations sets out the policies and procedures that services should have in place. There is more information about this on pages 108 -110 in the Guide to the National Law and Regulations.

Does the nominated supervisor always have to be present at a centre-based service?

The approved provider has to ensure that a responsible person is present at all times the service is educating and caring for children. A responsible person can be the approved provider, nominated supervisor or a certified supervisor placed in day-to-day charge of the service. This means that when the nominated supervisor is absent, the approved provider or a certified supervisor placed in day-to-day charge may be the responsible person in their absence. There is no limit on the number of certified supervisors that a service may have.

More information about nominated supervisors and certified supervisors can be found in the following information sheets:

Nominated Supervisor
Certified Supervisor

How many service approvals must I get if I run a family day care service with educators in more than one state or territory?

As a general rule, a family day care service that operates in neighbouring areas across different jurisdictions will need only one service approval. That approval will be from the regulatory authority of the jurisdiction where the service is located (i.e. where the service's principal office is).

In some cases, a service approval in each of the jurisdictions may be the best option for a provider. For example, this could be because:

the provider is actually operating a separate service in each jurisdiction, or
the provider deems the educators are too distant from the support they are required to receive and a separate service would reduce the risk of inadequate support or supervision.

It is the responsibility of the provider to decide whether more than one approval is needed, taking into account the level of support available to educators, the number of educators, and their locations in relation to the principal office.

If the provider has only one service approval, but has educators located across multiple jurisdictions, it is very important that they are mindful that any compliance and/or enforcement action taken can impact the operation of their service in all states and/or territories.

If a family day care service engages a new educator in a different state, then the service needs to notify the regulatory authority that issued the service approval within 7 days.

Can two Family Day Care residences operate within a single dwelling?

A family day care (FDC) educator must not educate and care for more than seven children at a family day care residence at any one time.

There may be occasions when a dwelling could include two self-contained residences with an FDC educator operating from each residence. In all cases the approved provider of the family day care service is responsible for assessing and determining the suitability of residences. If the provider assessed a dwelling suitable for two educators, then a regulatory authority would expect to see two residences that are sufficiently self-contained so that there is clear separation of responsibility for the education and care of children in each. For example, there should be separate indoor and outdoor facilities.

The health, safety and wellbeing of the children being educated and cared for is paramount.

Other aspects of the Law and Regulations must be taken into account, including toilet and hygiene facilities, ventilation, and natural light. There are also sometimes local planning or land use rules (administered by other agencies) that the provider would need to consider.

The suitability of FDC residences may be examined during an assessment and rating visit or a compliance check by an authorised officer of the regulatory authority.

Employment

I am interested in applying for a position with ACECQA. How do I apply?

Current employment opportunities at ACECQA are published on the Employment Opportunities page and other Australian employment websites.

I am interested in applying for a position as an NQF assessor. How do I apply?

Under the National Quality Framework, assessment will be carried out by the states and territories. Please contact your state or territory department for information about employment opportunities. Contact details can be found here.

General

How do I find school starting ages in Australia?

Across Australia there are several different names used for the first year of school, such as kindergarten, prep or transition. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority provides information about school starting ages in Australia. You can read more about school starting ages here.

Who can advertise an education and care service?

ACECQA and regulatory authorities have recently had questions, particularly from family day care educators, about who can advertise under the new National Law
and Regulations. Anyone can advertise an approved education and care service without breaking the Law.

Under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010, Section 104(1): A person must not knowingly publish or cause to be published an advertisement for an education and care service unless it is an approved education and care service.

The intent of Section 104(1) of the Law is to prevent unapproved education and care services being advertised. Services that are approved may be advertised.

Some family day care educators were concerned that the Law meant they couldn’t promote themselves as part of a service. However, the emphasis in this section of the Law is on what is being advertised, rather than who is doing the advertising.

A family day care educator can advertise if they make clear they are part of an approved service. Any advertisement should indicate which approved service they are promoting and include contact details for that service. If you have questions about the National Law and Regulations, please email enquiries@acecqa.gov.au

There has been a change of members on my service’s management committee. Which forms should I use to notify my regulatory authority?

Please use forms PA08 Notification of change to information about approved provider and PA02 Declaration of fitness and propriety to change the details of the committee members. Once you have completed these forms, please send them to your local regulatory authority. There is a full list of contact details on the ACECQA website.

Can I complete and submit the notification and application forms online?

The notification and application forms are not yet available to submit online. Please print them off and, once you have completed them, mail or fax them to your local regulatory authority.

The forms will be available to submit online in the future. To keep up to date with regular updates, please subscribe to our electronic newsletter.

Where can I find my provider and service approval number?

Your Approved Provider Number and Service Approval Number are available from your local regulatory authority.

Please contact your local regulatory authority as they receive and process the forms. There is a full list of regulatory authority contact details on the ACECQA website.

When applying for a provider approval, who is required to satisfy the fitness and propriety requirements?

In accordance with Section 5 of the National Law, when applying to be an approved provider, an applicant must demonstrate they are fit and proper to be involved in an education and care service. If the applicant is an entity, each person who will have management or control of the service must demonstrate they are a fit and proper person.

It is the responsibility of the provider to determine each individual who will be in management or control of the education and care service. Each of those individuals will need to complete a Declaration of fitness and propriety (PA02) form. The form will need to be submitted with the Application for provider approval (PA01).

Policy

How do I find out about changes the National Law and Regulations will have on my service?

The ACECQA website has a range of information about the National Law, National Regulations and National Quality Framework. For questions about the application of the National Law and Regulations to your service, you can email enquiries@acecqa.gov.au.

For questions about state or territory specific areas of the National Law and Regulations you can ask your local state or territory regulatory authority who will be able to help you.

Who can advertise an education and care service?

Under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010, Section 104(1):

A person must not knowingly publish or cause to be published an advertisement for an education and care service unless it is an approved education and care service.

The intent of Section 104(1) of the Law is to prevent unapproved education and care services being advertised. Services that are approved may be advertised.

Publications

Who was included in the scope of the NQF resource kit distribution?

Funding provided by the Australian Government was for the production and distribution of one hard copy of the resource kit to each education and care service covered under the National Quality Framework. Education and care services registered on or before 16 March 2012 will be issued one resource kit per service. Other interested parties are able to view and download the documents as required from the ACECQA website – www.acecqa.gov.au.

Services that have not received their kit, should email enquiries@acecqa.gov.au and include the following information:

Full name of service and/or service provider
Correct street address
Key contact name, contact phone number and email address
Date of service approval or licencing of your service
Please put ‘publication request’ in the subject of your email.

What happens if I registered my service after 16 March 2012?
Newly registered services will need to purchase or download National Quality Framework resources from ACECQA. Details on how to purchase additional copies are located here.

I am a registered service and I have not received my NQF resource kit. How do I enquire about it?

Each registered service should have received one NQF resource kit per centre. We are able to check the courier records to see if a delivery was made or attempted at your address.

Education and care services registered before 16 March 2012 that have not received a resource kit should email enquiries@acecqa.gov.au with the following information:

Full name of service and/or service provider
Correct street address
Key contact name, contact phone number and email address
Date of service approval or licencing of your service
Please put ‘publication request’ in the subject of your email

I am an education or training provider, educator or individual and I would like a NQF resource kit. How do I purchase one?

National Quality Framework resource kits are available for purchase from ACECQA. Please follow the process on our website.

The following material is contained in the resource kit and is also available for download on the resources & templates page of the ACECQA website:
1. Guide to the National Quality Framework
2. Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
3. Guide to the National Quality Standard
4. Guide to Developing a Quality Improvement Plan
5. Quality Improvement Plan template

How much do National Quality Framework resource kits cost?

Additional printed NQF Kits in folders are available to purchase from ACECQA for $66 excluding postage and GST.

If you would like to order multiple copies of the kits it will cost:

$66 x number of kits + postage cost per kit + 10% GST = total cost

Updated CD-ROM versions of the kits are available for $10 for one disc including postage and GST, or $12 for up to three discs.

Please contact ACECQA about arrangements for large orders of printed kits or CD-ROMs and we will be able to give you a quote.

How do I purchase the National Quality Framework resource kit?

To purchase the National Quality Framework resource kits from ACECQA you will need to do the following:

Download the NQF resource kit order form from our website
Complete the order form and nominate your payment method
If paying by credit card, please phone ACECQA on (02) 8240 4200 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (02) 8240 4200 end_of_the_skype_highlighting between 9:00am and 5:00pm AEST, Monday to Friday and follow the instructions on the order form
Send your completed order form via email, post, or fax to:

Postal Address:	PO Box A292, Sydney, NSW 1235
Email:	enquiries@acecqa.gov.au
Fax:	(02) 8240 4206

Please note: If you are emailing us your completed application, please include ‘NQF resource kit order’ in the subject line of your email.

Once we have received your completed order form and payment, ACECQA will process your request and provide you with a tax invoice and confirmation of your order.

Our standard is to dispatch the resource kits within five working days. However, during periods of high volume, this may take longer.

I received my NQF resource kit and I want more copies for my service

Additional National Quality Framework resource kits are available for purchase from ACECQA. For details please see here.

I was not a registered service at 16 March 2012, how do I get a National Quality Framework resource kit and all the available NQF information?

National Quality Framework resource kit

To purchase National Quality Framework resource kits from ACECQA you will need to follow the process on our website.

Family kits

Additional copies of the Family kits are available from DEEWR. Please contact mychild@deewr.gov.au for more information.

Education and Care Services National Regulations

The Education and Care Services National Regulations may be purchased from Salmat. Please email Lynne Watt lynne.watt@salmat.com.au or call 02 9311 9899 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 02 9311 9899 end_of_the_skype_highlighting for details. The National Regulations can also be downloaded from the ACECQA website.

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010

The Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 may be purchased from the Victorian Government. Please note there are a number of variations that are specific to your state or territory. These changes are detailed on the ACECQA website. Information about the application of the NQF in your state or territory is also available from your regulatory authority. The National Law can also be downloaded from the ACECQA website.

Belonging, Being, Becoming – Early Years Learning Framework resources

The Belonging, Being and Becoming EYLF Booklets were distributed by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Unfortunately, there are no hard copies currently available for purchase. A searchable electronic version is included in the updated NQF Resource Kit CD-Rom (but not the print folder).

You can download additional copies of Belonging, Being, Becoming – Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) and the Educators’ Guide, including the Framework in Action from the DEEWR website. You will find the EYLF in the section titled Key Documents and the Educators’ Guide in the section titled Supporting Documents of this link:

http://www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Policy_Agenda/Quality/Pages/EarlyYearsLearningFramework.aspx

If you have any further queries about the Belonging, Being, Becoming EYLF documents please direct them to mychild@deewr.gov.au and they will be able to assist you.

My Time, Our place – Framework for School Age Care

The My Time, Our Place - Framework for School Age Care resources were distributed by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Unfortunately, there are no hard copies currently available for purchase. A searchable electronic version is included in the updated NQF Resource Kit CD-Rom (but not the print folder).

You can download additional copies of My Time, Our Place - Framework for School Age Care from this link: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Earlychildhood/Policy_Agenda/Pages/FrameSchAgeCare.aspx

If you have further enquiries about the My Time, Our Place - Framework for School Age Care documents please direct them to mychild@deewr.gov.au and they will be able to assist you.

Additional enquiries about publications

All enquiries about National Quality Framework resource kits should be directed to enquiries@acecqa.gov.au

Please include the full name of your service and/or service provider, your correct street address, phone number, contact details for your service, and if you are a recently registered service, your date of registration. This information will assist us in identifying your situation and dealing with your enquiry as quickly as possible.

What printed information is available?

The following material is available online:

Guide to the National Quality Framework
Guide to the National Law and National Regulations
Guide to the National Quality Standard
Guide to Developing a Quality Improvement Plan
Quality Improvement Plan template

A CD-ROM is also available for purchase with electronic versions of these documents and additional learning frameworks. Please see here for the order process.

How can my organisation get copies of the resources?

National Quality Framework resource kit

To purchase National Quality Framework resource kits from ACECQA you will need to follow the process on our website.

Family kits

Additional copies of the Family kits are available from DEEWR. Please contact

mychild@deewr.gov.au for more information.

Education and Care Services National Regulations

The Education and Care Services National Regulations may be purchased from

Salmat. Please email Lynne Watt lynne.watt@salmat.com.au or call 02 9311 9899 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 02 9311 9899 end_of_the_skype_highlighting for details. The National Regulations can also be downloaded from the ACECQA website.

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010

The Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 may be purchased from the

Victorian Government. Please note there are a number of variations that are specific to your state or territory. These changes are detailed on the ACECQA website. Information about the application of the NQF in your state or territory is also available from your regulatory authority. The National Law can also be downloaded from the ACECQA website.

Belonging, Being, Becoming – Early Years Learning Framework resources

http://www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Policy_Agenda/Quality/Pages/EarlyYearsLearningFramework.aspx

If you have any further queries about the Belonging, Being, Becoming EYLF documents please direct them to mychild@deewr.gov.au

and they will be able to assist you.

My Time, Our place – Framework for School Age Care

The My Time, Our Place - Framework for School Age Care resources were distributed by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Unfortunately, there are no hard copies currently available for purchase. A searchable electronic version is included in the updated NQF Resource Kit CD-Rom (but not the print folder).

You can download additional copies of My Time, Our Place - Framework for School Age Care from this link: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Earlychildhood/Policy_Agenda/Pages/FrameSchAgeCare.aspx

If you have further enquiries about the My Time, Our Place - Framework for School Age Care documents please direct them to mychild@deewr.gov.au

and they will be able to assist you.

Where are the National Quality Standards?

The National Quality Standards are located at Schedule 1 of the National Regulations. The National Regulations are available to download on the ACECQA website.

Is there a self-assessment template?

Some state and territory regulatory authorities have created templates so we suggest you look at your local regulatory authority website. A full list is available on the ACECQA website.

Page six of the Guide to Developing a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) states that there needs to be evidence that a QIP is informed by self-assessment. Self-assessment needs to show that you have considered all elements of the National Quality Standard. The Guide suggests that the QIP should include a summary of your self-assessment. You might have an additional document that provides more details and shows evidence that you have completed self-assessment. However, it is up to you how you do this.

Do the National Law and Regulations have to be accessible on all family day care premises?

Yes. Each family day care office, venue or residence should have a copy of the Law and Regulations accessible. This can be an electronic copy. The National Law and National Regulations can be accessed from the ACECQA website. Prescribed information, as set out in Section 172 of the National Law and Regulation 173 of the National Regulations, should be displayed at the entrance of each family day care educator's residence or venue. The primary consideration is that families need to be able to easily access the information.

Qualifications and training

I would like advice on my qualifications as an educator under the National Quality Framework.

A national list of current and previously accepted educator qualifications has been developed. This will apply from the commencement of the scheme on 1 January 2012 until the introduction of the National Quality Framework qualification requirements for educators on 1 January 2014. These lists are available on the ACECQA website.

ACECQA in consultation with jurisdictions and others is developing its policy on the assessment of equivalent qualifications. A timeframe for the release of the policy will be added to the website shortly.

Does completing an early childhood teaching qualification approved by ACECQA ensure employment as a teacher in early childhood settings?

Completion of a qualification on the ACECQA approved early childhood teacher qualifications list does not ensure a job as a teacher in early childhood settings. By completing programs approved either formerly by local regulatory authorities or by ACECQA, an individual has met the requirements to be considered to be an early childhood teacher under the National Quality Framework.

In some jurisdictions, early childhood teachers must be registered to teach before being employed as a teacher. Early childhood teacher education programs intended to prepare teachers for settings where teacher registration is a requirement must also be accredited by the relevant state teacher registration authority using state-based or the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership national standards and procedures.

ACECQA is working with Australian teacher regulatory authorities to discuss ways to streamline processes for higher education institutions in meeting all legislative requirements.

I have a degree in primary teaching. Can I be recognised as an early childhood teacher by ACECQA?

A primary school teaching qualification on its own is generally not equivalent to an early childhood teacher under the Education and Care Services National Law.

ACECQA has criteria we use to assess if someone can be recognised as an early childhood teacher. A person will need to show they have professional experience working with birth to two and birth to five. The person also needs to have completed key areas of curriculum including:

Psychology and child development
Education and curriculum studies
Early childhood pedagogies
Family and community contexts
History and philosophy of early childhood
Early childhood professional practice

Most primary school teaching qualifications do not meet these criteria on their own. However, you may be able to show that you have this knowledge with other study you have completed. If you are unsure, you can apply to have your qualification assessed by ACECQA. The process to do that is available here.

If you want to expand your primary school teaching qualifications, a list of approved post graduate teaching courses is available on the ACECQA website www.acecqa.gov.au. Completing a further one or two year degree, for instance a Master of Teaching, in combination with earlier study may meet the qualification requirement to work as an early childhood teacher. You would need to ensure that your program gave you the necessary professional experience. Sixty days with children aged birth to five years including a minimum of ten days with children aged birth to two would be undertaken during this program.

I have a degree in primary teaching and I am working as an assistant in a childcare centre, can I be recognised at certificate III or diploma level?

A primary school teaching qualification is generally on its own not equivalent to a certificate III or diploma in children's services under the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations.

ACECQA has criteria we use to assess if a qualification is equivalent to an approved certificate III or diploma level course. We will check that the qualification covers curriculum for children aged birth to five including units like:

provide care for babies
foster physical development in early childhood
development of young children or
care routines for children.

Most primary school teaching qualifications do not meet these criteria on their own. However, you may be able to show that you have this knowledge through other study you have completed. If you are unsure, you can apply to have your qualification assessed by ACECQA. The process how to do that is here.

If you are working in a service, you may also be able to use the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative, which is available to make it easier for early childhood educators to obtain or upgrade their qualifications to achieve the minimum qualification requirements set out in the National Quality Standard. Further information on this scheme is available at ECECWorkforceInitiatives@deewr.gov.au or on the website.

ACECQA is working with Australian teacher regulatory authorities to streamline processes for higher education institutions in meeting all legislative requirements.

I'm not sure if my qualification gained in Australia allows me to work as an educator in a childcare centre. How can I find out?

ACECQA has published lists of approved qualifications on our website. Your first step is to check the lists to see if your qualification is listed.

If your qualification does not appear on one of the lists, you may apply to ACECQA to have your qualification assessed for equivalence. Please refer to the Guidelines for assessment and determination of equivalent qualifications, including the criteria used for assessment.

How do I apply for teacher registration in an Australian state/territory?

ACECQA does not have responsibility for teacher registration. This is a responsibility of the state and territory Teacher Regulatory Authorities.

You should approach the teacher registration body in your state/territory for further information.

I have an early childhood teaching qualification approved by ACECQA, where can I work?

If you have an early childhood teaching qualification approved by ACECQA, you are eligible to be an early childhood teacher in an education and care service for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law. Completing a qualification on the ACECQA list does not guarantee you a job as a teacher in early childhood settings.

In some states and territorites, early childhood teachers must also be registered before they can work in a children's education and care service. You should check with your local teacher registration authority for information.

What courses should I take so that I can work in a child care centre?

While ACECQA is responsible for approving education and care qualifications, we cannot provide personal recommendations about which courses to undertake. We encourage you to check through the lists of approved qualifications that have been published on our website and, if the course you are interested in does not appear, to speak with the tertiary organisation offering the credential.

Please be aware that some states and territories have made provisions which affect qualifications in their jurisdictions. These provisions are set out in chapter 7 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations.

For questions regarding these requirements, please contact your state or territory regulatory authority. A full list of these can be found on the regulatory authorities page of the website.

How can a Higher Education Provider have an early childhood program added to the list of approved qualifications?

Higher education providers need to apply to ACECQA to have their program added to the list of approved qualifications. Details of how to apply, including the Guidelines for Approving Early Childhood Education and care Qualifications can be found here.

If the program is intented to prepare teachers for settings where teacher registration is needed, the program will also need to be accredited by the relevant state teacher registration authority.

ACECQA is working with Australian teacher regulatory authorities to streamline processes for higher education institutions in meeting all legislative requirements.

Why do the list of approved first aid qualifications, anaphylaxis management training and emergency asthma management training only have state abbreviations for certain states? What happens if I do not live in those states?

The approved first aid, anaphylaxis management and emergency asthma management courses are not specific to individual states even though some have a state abbreviation at the end. If you search each unit on the www.training.gov.au website you will find training organisations who offer the training in each state.

How often do I have to renew my first aid, anaphylaxis management and emergency asthma management qualifications?

The first aid, anaphylaxis management training and emergency asthma management training required must be updated at least every three years from the date of completion.

The first aid certificate may specify additional requirements to keep it valid. For example, if your first aid certificate requires the CPR component to be completed every 12 months to keep it current, you will need to comply.

I am applying to ACECQA to have my overseas qualification assessed for equivalence and need to provide evidence of the qualification level against the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF), How do I do this?

You can obtain this assessment from either the Overseas Qualification Unit in your state/territory or AEI-NOOSR. ACECQA will accept either of these assessments as evidence of the levelling of the qualification. Assessments through an Overseas Qualification Units are generally free, while AEI-NOOSR does charge a fee.

ACECQA will also accept evidence of current teacher registration in an Australian State/Territory as evidence of qualification levelling.

I have been working in a service for years, but now see that my early childhood teacher/diploma/certificate lll qualification is not on ACECQA's lists of approved qualifications. Does this mean I need to have my qualification assessed for equivalence by ACECQA?

If you were recognised as an early childhood teacher by your local jurisdiction immediately before 1 January 2012, then you are taken to be an early childhood teacher under the National Law (see regulation 241 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations). You do not need to have your qualification assessed for equivalence by ACECQA.

Similar transitional and saving provisions exist in the National Regulations for Diploma level and Certificate III level educators (see regulations 243 and 244).

If you are unsure if you were recognised under the former law, please contact your local regulatory authority.

If you were not recognised as an early childhood teacher/diploma level/certificate III educator in your local jurisdiction immediately before 1 January 2012, you can apply to ACECQA to have your qualifications assessed for equivalence. Details of the process and requirements to have your qualifications assessed for equivalence can be found here.

Please refer to the Guidelines for assessment and determination of equivalent qualifications and the Qualification Assessment Application Form.

I have just moved to Australia and want to work as a teacher in a childcare centre. I have an early childhood teaching qualification from overseas. How can I be recognised as an early childhood teacher in Australia?

ACECQA is responsible for assessing early childhood qualifications for the purposes of working in early childhood education and care services under the National Quality Framework (NQF). ACECQA does not publish a list of overseas early childhood teaching qualifications under the NQF (except for Queensland – see list of approved overseas qualifications for Queensland only).

If you wish to be recognised as an early childhood teacher in an education and care service, you may apply to ACECQA to have your qualifications assessed for quivalence. Details of the process and requirements to have your overseas qualifications assessed for equivalence can be found here.

Please refer to the Guidelines for Assessment and Determination of Equivalent Qualifications and the Qualification Assessment Application Form.

As your qualifications were awarded overseas, you will need to provide evidence to
ACECQA of the qualification level against the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF). You can obtain this assessment from either the Overseas Qualification Unit in your state/territory or AEI-NOOSR.

ACECQA will also accept evidence of current teacher registration in an Australian State/Territory as evidence of qualification levelling.

I want to have my overseas qualification assessed for equivalence by ACECQA, but I'm not sure how to demonstrate English language proficiency (section J in the Qualification Assessment Application Form).

If you completed your study in a country other than Australia you must provide evidence of English language proficiency.

This can be satisfied by providing evidence that you have completed at least one year of full time higher education level study for an initial teacher education qualification in one of the following countries:

Australia
Canada
Ireland
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States of America

If you have not completed at least one year of full time higher education level study for an initial teacher education qualification in one of the countries listed above, you must provide evidence to show that you have completed the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination.

Your IELTS results must show that you have obtained a score of seven (7.0) or more in each component of the examination. A certified copy of these results must be provided with your application to ACECQA.

I am completing the Qualification Assessment Application Form. What is meant by 'Professional Experience'?

The 'Professional experience' referred to in the Qualification Assessment Application Form is the supervised professional practice (practical placements) you completed as a student. For example, you might have been placed in a preschool or child care centre for a four week period to work with the staff and children and complete specific tasks to meet your study requirements.

Your responses to The 'Professional experience' criteria must describe placements undertaken as part of your teacher education study. Work experience gained before or after your studies were completed does not meet this criteria.

Quality Improvement Plans

What is a Quality Improvement Plan?

The National Regulations require approved services to have a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). The aim of a QIP is to help providers self-assess their performance in delivering quality education and care and to plan future improvements. The QIP also helps the regulatory authorities with their assessment of the service.

A QIP helps providers to document the strengths of their services and to recognise areas for improvement.

Who is responsible for the Quality Improvement Plan?

Approved Providers must make sure a Quality Improvement Plan is developed for each of their approved services. The Approved Provider is the individual, organisation or company managing the service. The provider should develop a QIP which reflects the unique circumstances of the service and its community. Educators, children, families and the community should all be involved in the self-assessment.

How many Quality Improvement Plans need to be prepared?

You need as many Quality Improvement Plans as you have approved education and care services. For example, an approved service may provide before and after school and vacation care and these could all be covered under one QIP. But if the provider had two service approvals; one for the vacation care held in one location and a second approval for the before and after school care held in a different location, then two QIPs would be required.

What information has to be included in my Quality Improvement Plan?

The Quality Improvement Plan must:

include an assessment of the quality of practices of the service against the National Regulations and National Quality Standard
identify areas the provider considers may require improvement
contain a statement about the philosophy of the service

What should I consider when preparing my Quality Improvement Plan?

Does our statement of philosophy reflect a commitment to improvement?
Are our resources targeted to support our plans?
Are we collecting and using the right information to help our planning cycle?
How do we handle complaints?
How do we review our policies and procedures?

Where can I get more information about the Quality Improvement Plan?

The ACECQA website has the following information about preparing a Quality Improvement Plan:

information sheet about the assessment and rating process with advice to services, including dates relevant to preparing a QIP
the Guide to Developing a Quality Improvement Plan
an editable QIP template

ACECQA now has information available about the assessment & rating process which may also inform your QIP, along with the National Quality Framework resource kit.

When does my Quality Improvement Plan need to be ready?

If you are the provider of a service approved before 1 January 2012, you have until 30 April 2012 to develop a Quality Improvement Plan. It must be available on request by your state or territory regulatory authority from 1 May 2012. The QIP does not need to be submitted until the assessment visit is scheduled.

If your service was approved between 1 January 2012 and 31 January 2012 you must submit a QIP for the service to your regulatory authority by 30 April 2012.

The provider of a service approved after 31 January 2012 must submit a QIP for the service to the regulatory authority within three months of the grant of service approval.

If you are unsure when you should submit your QIP, please contact your local regulatory authority.

How do I make my Quality Improvement Plan available?

The Quality Improvement Plan must be on the premises and available at all times. For family day care services, it must be available at the principal office.
The QIP must be made available on request to parents of children enrolled at the service, or who are seeking to enrol a child.
Approved Providers must review and revise the QIP:

- at least annually, and

- at any time when directed by the regulatory authority

How long should my Quality Improvement Plan be?

There is not a minimum or maximum number of pages requiried when completing your Quality Improvement Plan (QIP).

The Guide to Developing a QIP states that the QIP must include strategies to address those quality areas noted during the self-assessment or assessment process as not meeting the National Quality Standard or any regulatory requirement (page 6).

Ratios

I would like advice on educator to child ratios at my centre-based service under the National Quality Framework.

Ratio changes are being implemented over a number of years. The following educator to child ratios will apply from the dates below:

children aged birth to 24 months – 1:4 from 1 January 2012
children aged 25 – 35 months – 1:5 from 1 January 2016
children aged 36 months up to and including preschool age – 1:11 from 1 January 2016.

There are transitional and saving provisions for ratios in many jurisdictions. You can find more information about these changes in the Part 7 of the National Regulations.

For specific questions regarding these requirements, please contact your State or Territory department. The ACECQA website lists contacts for state and territory regulatory authorities.

What are the educator-to-child ratios under the National Quality Framework?

There may be state and territory provisions which affect requirements in your area. These provisions are set out in Chapter 7 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations. If you have any questions about these requirements, please contact your state or territory regulatory authority.

Centre-based services

Age of children	Educator to child ratio	Date requirement applies from
Birth to 24 months	1:4	1 Jan 2012 - in all states and territories
Over 24 months and less than 36 months	1:5	1 Jan 2012 - in ACT, NT, TAS, WA 1 Jan 2016 - in NSW, QLD, SA Saving provision applies in VIC
Over 36 months up to an including preschool age	1:11	1 Jan 2012 - in NT 1 Jan 2016 - in ACT, QLD, VIC Saving provision applies in NSW, SA, TAS, WA
Over preschool age	No national ratio has been set (state and territory ratios may apply)

Family day care services

Age of children	Educator to child ratio	Date requirement applies from
Birth to 13 years	1:7, with no more than four children preschool age or under	1 Jan 2012 - in ACT, SA, VIC 1 Jan 2014 - in NSW, NT, SA, TAS, WA

What are the educator-to-child ratios for excursions?

The Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations do not set ratios specifically for excursions. However, when on an excursion you have to meet the minimum ratios that apply while you are at the service.
A risk assessment should be completed before an excursion. You must consider if you’ll need extra people to provide adequate supervision at all times. A template excursion risk management plan is available on ACECQA’s Resources & Templates page. For more information on excursion ratios, refer to the Guide to the National Law and National Regulations pages 65 and 70.