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National Quality Framework
Overview
National Quality Framework
National Quality Standard
Rating and Assessment
New Approval Process
Overview
The National Quality Framework is to commence from January 2012 and will replace current regulation and accreditation processes with one unified system administered by all states and territories. This will apply to most long day care, family day care, outside school hours care and preschools.
National Quality Framework
A single national regulatory system will minimise administrative processes for services and improve the cost effectiveness of the regulatory framework. New national approval processes will replace jurisdiction-specific licensing arrangements.
A new National Quality Standard of seven quality areas will focus on improving children’s educational and developmental outcomes, including new educator qualification requirements and more educators working with children.
A new national quality assessment and rating system will see services assessed and rated against each of the seven quality areas of the National Quality Standard, as well as given an overall rating. This will drive continual quality improvement at services and the rating will provide families with better information for making choices about their children’s education and care. Assessment and rating will generally be carried out by Regulatory Authorities.
There will no longer be accreditation assessments by the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
A Regulatory Authority in each state and territory will be primarily responsible for administering the framework, including granting approvals and monitoring compliance.
A new national body—the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority—will coordinate and guide the National Quality Framework and ensure the consistent and effective implementation of the new system.
National Quality Standard
From 1 January 2012 all education and care services covered by the National Quality Framework will be assessed against the National Quality Standard which is divided into seven quality areas:
- Educational program and practice
- Children’s health and safety
- Physical environment
- Staffing arrangements
- Relationships with children
- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- Leadership and service management
The National Quality Standard aims to promote:
- the safety, health and wellbeing of children
- a focus on achieving outcomes for children through high quality educational programs
- parents’ understanding of what distinguishes a quality service
Rating and Assessment
State and territory Regulatory Authorities will have responsibility for assessing and rating education and care services in their jurisdictions against the new National Quality Standard. Each service will receive a rating for each quality area and an overall rating.
New Approval Processes
The National Quality Framework establishes new ongoing national approval processes that replace the separate and specific arrangements in each jurisdiction.
- Provider Approval—allows a person (individual or entity) to provide education and care services subject to demonstrating fitness and propriety. Provider Approvals will be nationally recognised. This will allow an approved provider to apply for Service Approval in any state or territory without needing a separate provider approval in that jurisdiction. These changes aim to reduce the administrative burden on approved providers.
- Service Approval—allows an approved provider to operate an education and care service at a particular centre-based premises or a family day care service. A service must have a nominated supervisor who is the person in day-to-day charge of the service.
- Supervisor Certificates—allows a person to be placed in day-to-day charge of a service. To be granted a Supervisor Certificate a person must demonstrate they are fit and proper and hold the necessary skills, experience or qualifications.
All of the above approvals can occur at the same time or at different times to suit the applicant.
