Education Council agrees to National Amendment Regulations

On 15 September 2017, the Education Council made the Education and Care Services National Amendment Regulations 2017 (Amendment Regulations), which give effect to a number of recommendations arising from the 2014 Review of the National Partnership Agreement on the National Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care. The Amendment Regulations have been published on the NSW legislation website: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/regulations/2017-543.pdf.

The Amendment Regulations, coupled with previously agreed changes to the Education and Care Services National Law, will commence from 1 October 2017 in all states and territories (except Western Australia, where changes will commence no later than 1 October 2018).

Working with all jurisdictions, the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority has published, and will continue to publish, a suite of guidance materials to support sector stakeholders to understand and prepare for the changes. Further advice can be found at: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/resources/information-sheets#changes.

Transitional provisions

The Education Council also intends to extend several transitional provisions in the Education and Care Services National Regulations primarily relating to staffing and qualifications arrangements in the children's education and care sector before the end of 2017.

Extending the provisions to 2020 will allow for sector continuity and certainty, and support the availability of qualified educators to maintain current quality safeguards for children's education and care. The relevant Regulations are: 239A, 240, 242, 264 and 300. These provisions are not being extended in Victoria in recognition of the progress made in developing the qualifications of the early childhood workforce.

Taken from the Education Council statement approved on 22 September 2017