Positions available at ACECQA are being advertised in stages. All remaining positions will be advertised through this website and other 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. The ACECQA website lists contacts for state and territory regulatory authorities.

Policy

I would like more information about how the regulations will affect me and my service. Where can I find this?

At present, the State and Territory Regulatory Authorities are best placed to answer specific queries regarding the application of the regulations. Please contact your State or Territory department for further information about your situation. The ACECQA website lists contacts for state and territory regulatory authorities .

Publications

What publications are available?

The following material is available online:

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 can I get more copies of the guides / how can my organisation get copies of the guides?

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations distributed the National Quality Framework Resource Kit on our behalf in 2011. We are currently investigating ways for individuals and organisations to purchase more copies of the guides. As soon as this information becomes available it will be updated on our website.

In the meantime, you can view and/or download all the documents on the Research and Publications and National Quality Framework resources pages on the ACECQA website.

I haven’t received my copy of the guide yet. What do I do?

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations distributed the guides on our behalf in December 2011. There were a small number of guides returned as undeliverable if services were closed. These will be re-issued in January.

If you do not receive your pack by the end of January, please let us know by emailing enquiries@acecqa.gov.au with ‘publication request’ in the subject line. Please include your service’s name and contact details.

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. This list will shortly be published 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.

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 a new early childhood initial teacher education program approved by ACECQA and added to the list of approved qualifications?

From 1 January 2012, under the National Law, all early childhood teacher education programs must be approved by ACECQA for the qualification to be entered on the list of approved qualifications.

Detailed information about the approval process will be added to this website as it becomes available.

Regulations 138 and 139 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations set out what the application must include. An application fee of $2,000 exclusive of GST will apply to each qualification being assessed.

In advance of the application form and guidelines being finalised, please contact us at enquiries@acecqa.gov.au providing your institution’s details, the name of the program you wish to submit for assessment and your contact details.

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 national units of competency for approved first aid, anaphylaxis management and emergency asthma management qualifications are not specific to individual states even though some have a state abbreviation at the end. If you search each unit of competency on the 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 approved anaphylaxis management training and emergency asthma management training required under regulation 136 of the Education and Care Services National Law must be updated at least every three years from the date of completion.

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 savings provisions for ratios in many jurisdictions and you can find these 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?

Some states and territories have made provisions which affect requirements in your area. 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.

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