What we do

​​The Department of Education is the regulatory authority for early childhood education and care (the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority). This authority administers both the National Quality Framework (NQF) and the Education and Care Services Act 2013 under which early childhood education and care services in Queensland operate.

Responsibilities of the department​

Regulating early childhood education and care services in Queensland, including:​

• applications and approvals
• assessment and rating of services
• compliance and enforcement
• complaints management.

Funding services to support the early childhood education and care of Queensland children, including:

• Queensland kindergarten funding
• Kindergarten Inclusion Support Scheme (KISS)
• Early Years Services Funding.

Driving national early childhood education and care reforms in Queensland, including:

• National Quality Framework
• universal access to early childhood education through funding and inclusion initiatives.

Promoting successful transitions from home to early childhood education to school, including:

• strategies and resourc​es to support successful transitions
• incorporation of age-appropriate pedagogies.

Investing in evidence-based programs to support learning and development, including:

• support and publication of early childhood sector research and reports.