National Quality Framework and the NT Stakeholders Advisory Group
National registers
One of the key objectives of the National Quality Framework (NQF) for Early Childhood Education and Care is to improve public knowledge, and access to information, about the quality of education and care services.
On 1 May 2013, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) published for the first time new national registers comprising prescribed information about approved providers, education and care services and certified supervisors in all jurisdictions. These publications also include services quality ratings. The NQF has introduced a new assessment and rating system which sets higher benchmarks for services. As services are progressively assessed and rated their quality ratings will be added to the national registers.
Registers about Northern Territory education and care services are now available and further information about the NQF and quality ratings can be found on ACECQA’s website.
Giving Territory kids the best start in life
On 7 December 2009 the Council of Australian Governments agreed to a new national Quality Framework (NQF) for early childhood education and care and school aged care. From January 2012 a jointly-governed, unified national framework will apply to long day care, outside school hours care and preschool. The national framework will replace the current licensing and accreditation processes undertaken by the states, territories and the Commonwealth governments.
Transition to the new national quality system commenced in July 2010 through a joint planning approach between the states, territories and the Commonwealth. The NQF includes the introduction of the Early Years Learning Framework and My Time, Our Place (a framework for school aged care).
On 1 January 2012, the Education and Care Services (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 and the Education and Care Services National Regulations (pdf 1.2 mb) came into effect.
National Quality Framework: What is it and why do we need it?
The National Quality Framework is a new system for the regulation of early childhood education and care and school aged care services including long day care, family day care, outside school hours care and preschool. The aim of the framework is to:
- improve the quality of early childhood education and care
- streamline the administration and regulation of services
- ensure services meet the needs of families
- provide parents with information about the quality of the services their children attend.
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) has been established to oversee implementation and ensure national consistency of the National Quality Framework in all jurisdictions. Available on the ACECQA website are a comprehensive range of important resources, guides and information for all stakeholders regarding the new reforms, visit www.acecqa.gov.au.
More information about this national initiative is also available from the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website.
For Territory families
- Cost to parents and carers (pdf 66 kb)
- Frequently asked questions
For early childhood workers
The NQF places new emphasis on improving the qualifications of staff employed in early childhood education and care services.
For service providers
The NQF changes will help providers to improve their services in the areas that impact on a child's development and empower families to make informed choices about which service is best for their child.
As part of the Territory Government’s commitment to the Early Childhood industry, the NT Early Childhood Workforce Plan (pdf 1.2 mb) has been released. The workforce plan provides a vehicle for partnerships across government, non-government and industry agencies to build, support and develop the early childhood workforce.
- National legislation timeline (pdf 58 kb)
- Reducing regulatory burden on services (pdf 57 kb)
- Frequently asked questions
- Complaint handling (pdf 20 kb | word 28 kb)
Public information sessions
Public information sessions were held throughout the Territory in November 2011 to provide more information about these changes, the transition arrangements and the new regulatory authority - Quality Education and Care NT. Responses to queries resulting from these sessions have been incorporated into the factsheets above.
Information covered in these sessions in relation to commencing the NQF (pdf 444 kb) is now available.
NT Stakeholders Advisory Group
NT Stakeholders Advisory Group will provide advice on the implementation of national reforms to the early childhood education and care system under the National Quality Framework.
The NT Department of Education and Training is seeking nominations from parents to join the NT Stakeholders Advisory Group. Two parent representatives will join government and non-government stakeholders to provide feedback on a range of issues, including:
- transition arrangements for the National Quality Framework in the NT
- roll out of the Early Years Learning Framework
- roll out of Universal Access in the NT
- workforce issues associated with current early childhood reforms.