Children's Policy and Regulation

The Children’s Policy and Regulation Unit, a section of the Office for Children Youth and Family Support, administer the legislation covering licensed childcare services. The Children’s Policy and Regulation Unit is responsible for licensing and monitoring a diverse range of childcare services to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Children and Young People Act 2008. Children’s
Services Advisers visit services to monitor compliance with the legislation and the Standards associated with their operations.

The Children’s Policy and Regulation Unit provides:

• a regulatory role to ensure that services meet the requirements of the
  Children and Young People Act 2008;
• professional advice on the planning, design and establishment of new
  services;
• an advisory service for families, children’s services and the community
  regarding child care; and
• funding to assist with the provision of:
• • support for children and adolescents with disabilities accessing children’s
    services programs;
  • occasional care services;
  • training and support for children’s services programs; and
  • behaviour management support for families and child care services.

If you need advice or information or have any concerns about your child care
arrangements in the ACT, please call (02) 6207 1114 and ask to speak to a
Children’s Services Adviser, or write to: Children’s Policy and Regulation Unit,
GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601.

Licensing Role

This ensures that children’s services in the ACT meet the requirements of the Children and Young People Act 2008 , and related ACT Childcare Services Standards.

The ACT Childcare Services Standards

The ACT Childcare Services Standards are a requirement of the Children and Young People Act 2008.  These Standards commenced on 27 February 2009 and replaced the Conditions of Approvals in Principle and Licences.

ACT Childcare Services Standards PDF  1,286kb | Word  90kb

Information sessions have been held for the childcare sector. The following presentation was delivered to services and their proprietors.

Children's Policy and Regulation Unit - Compliance Strategy

The CPRU Compliance Strategy details the role of the CPRU, defines compliance and noncompliance, and describes how the CPRU monitors and enforces the Children and Young People Act 2008, and the ACT Childcare Services Standards.

CPRU Compliance Strategy PDF  185kb | Word  251kb

Professional Advice

Children’s Policy and Regulation is available to provide advice in relation to the planning, design and establishment of new services and enhancements to existing services. Information is also available on children’s services operating in the ACT. Please refer to the following guides.

Preschools (ACT Government)  

Guide to Children's Services in the ACT

Funding

Funding is provided to assist in the provision of support for children and adolescents with disabilities accessing children’s services; casual, permanent part time and emergency early childhood places; and behaviour management support for families and children’s services.

Links

For more information on the National Quality Framework

National Agenda for Early Childhood
Keeping Children and Young People Safe
National Children's Services Workforce Study   
A Review of the Approach to Setting National Standards and Assuring the Quality of Care in Australian Child Care Services PDF  1.3MB

ACT Children's Services Workforce Issues Report (September 2008) PDF  1mb | Word  1.8mb

Newsletters

August 2009