Disaster recovery

Is it safe to return to the service?

Ensure that all hazards have been cleared, basic needs are available and the site is declared safe by emergency services if applicable. Before commencing clean-up efforts, survey the damage and assess if there is an increased risk of injury to staff when performing duties not normally part of their daily routine (e.g. lifting during cleaning of debris).

Wear protective shoes and clothing (and face masks where needed), have a first aid kit handy and use mechanical assistance (e.g. trolleys) where possible and seek help. Ensure no one uses equipment they are not trained and competent to use.

For helpful tips on returning to a disaster affected building, visit

• Returning to affected buildings after a storm, flood or cyclone
  
• Returning home safely after a fire
  
• Working safely when cleaning after storms and floods
  

Are the premises, furniture and equipment safe, clean and in good repair?

Make a detailed assessment of whether the premises, appliances, furniture and equipment are safe, clean and in good repair. Is there any mould, water damage, exposed glass, sewerage, ashes/dust, chemical leakage, asbestos, or other hazard?

Are there any electrical or plumbing issues that may require tradespeople?

Ensure gas, electricity, water and sewerage have been checked by the relevant authority prior to using the facility. Do not use gas or electrical appliances which have been in flood water until checked by an authorised, competent person. Ensure telecommunications are connected and in working order.

Are the outdoor areas safe?

Check if outdoor areas are contaminated or damaged. Are they accessible? Is the fencing compromised or unstable? Check sandpits, shade sails and play equipment. If outdoor areas have taken on floodwater, you must allow grounds to dry out prior to use to prevent floodwater contamination.

Your service should refer to its policies, procedures, checklists and/or other documentation to support a risk assessment of the premises, furniture and equipment.

For further information on what may need to be assessed, refer to the Guide to the National Quality Framework (NQF) Section 4: Operational Requirements, in particular, Quality Areas 2 and 3.

If you are concerned about the structural safety of the service building, arrange for it to be inspected by an appropriately qualified building practitioner who can undertake repairs if necessary and provide written confirmation that the building is safe to be occupied.

The evidence should include confirmation that the building practitioner is appropriately qualified to inspect and carry out structural work on a childcare building. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is the regulator for maintaining building standards and provides information, advice and licensee searches for building work. Further information and contact details can be found on the QBCC website.

If your service has any electrical, plumbing, gas or sewerage issues, ensure these have been checked by qualified tradespeople prior to using the premises.

Have a licensed electrician check all water-damaged hard-wired electrical appliances, such as air-conditioning units or stoves, intended for re-use. This safety check may be required before the power supply can be reconnected. For more information about electrical and power safety, visit the Electrical Safety Queensland website.

Do not use gas or electrical appliances which have been in flood water or water-damaged until they have been checked by a relevant qualified tradesperson. Using water-damaged equipment can cause electric shocks and fires.

If you decide to re-open your service while some areas are closed for cleaning or repairs, please refer to 'part of my service is closed for repair, do I need a temporary waiver?' FAQ about applying for a temporary waiver.

It’s important to thoroughly clean your service after a major storm or flood to prevent the spread of possible infection, illness and mould.

Because floodwaters may be contaminated by sewerage and agricultural or industrial wastes and chemicals, any items or areas that were contaminated by floodwater should be washed thoroughly, including hard surfaces such as floors and paved areas.

Maintain good hygiene throughout the clean-up efforts, ensuring staff wash their hands thoroughly with clean water and soap after contact with flood water, contaminated water or materials and prior to eating, making food, pre- and post-first aid as per standard hand hygiene protocols.

Children's toys that are soft or have air injection holes and have been in floodwater should be discarded. Solid toys should be washed thoroughly and then disinfected. When using disinfectants or other cleaners, make sure you and your staff follow safety advice on labels.

Following a flood, grassed and bare dirt areas should be left to dry out naturally. If the service has a vegetable garden that has been in contact with floodwater, the produce may be contaminated and unsafe to eat. Depending on the contamination type, it may take some time before the garden is suitable for replanting and or harvesting any produce.

For useful tips and practical information on cleaning after wind and water damage, visit:

• The Australian Red Cross
  
• QBCC floods – health and safety checklist
  
• QBCC flood cleaning checklist
  
• Use of playgrounds and sporting fields during flood recover fact sheet (PDF, 82KB)
  

Yes, you must notify the Regulatory Authority if your service is required to temporarily close or reduce the number of children attending (reg 175)(2)(b). You can notify your service’s closure and re-opening via the National Quality Agenda IT System (NQAITS).

Family day care (FDC) services are not required to notify if the closures are only for a number of FDC residences or venues rather than the whole service.

Closure information flows through to the Starting Blocks website, which many families rely on to find out where care is available when services close due to disasters or emergencies.

For step-by-step guidance on how to lodge a notification about a service closure or re-opening via the NQAITS, see this NQAITS Quick Reference Guide (PDF, 1.4MB).

You must notify the Regulatory Authority via the National Quality Agenda IT System if your service is required to temporarily reduce the number of children attending (reg 175 )(2)(b) as a result of part of the service being closed for repair.

In special circumstances, including during, or because of, unexpected events, the Regulatory Authority may grant a waiver if an approved provider cannot meet all the requirements of the National Quality Framework (NQF).

Approved providers having difficulty meeting operational requirements, such as the following, may need to apply for a waiver:

• physical environment
  
• staffing
  
• location of the principal office for a family day care service.
  

For example, the closure of part of your service for repair may reduce the amount of unencumbered space available and mean your service is unable to meet the indoor and/or outdoor space requirements under the National Regulations.

To determine if you require a temporary waiver for Regulation 107 (Indoor Space) you should consider:

• the amount of unencumbered indoor space that will be inaccessible during the repairs
  
• the available unencumbered indoor space
  
• the projected number of children who will attend the service during this time.
  

If you will not have sufficient space for the number of children who will attend to meet requirements under Regulation 107 or Regulation 108 (outdoor space), then you must apply for a temporary waiver via the National Quality Agenda IT System.

If you will have sufficient space during the repairs, you must submit an SA12 notification of proposed change to the education and care service premises (other than a family day care residence) via the National Quality Agenda IT System.

For the full list of requirements that can be temporarily waived by the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority under the National Regulations, see page 66 of the Guide to the National Quality Framework.

When applying for a temporary waiver, consider if you will be able to continue to meet the National Quality Standard (NSQ). If you include an NQS element in your temporary waiver application, you will be required to provide additional evidence to demonstrate why you are unable to meet the quality standard whilst the temporary waiver is in place.

If you are uncertain whether you need a temporary waiver, please contact your regional office before applying.

The Regulatory Authority reviews each application for a temporary waiver on a case-by-case basis. To issue a waiver, the Regulatory Authority must be certain that:

• genuine steps have been made or are being made to meet the requirements of the National Regulations or National Quality Standard (NQS)
• children’s safety, health and well-being is not compromised or at risk
• a plan is in place for the service to meet the requirements by the time the waiver is due to expire (in the case of a temporary waiver).

The following information must be included in the temporary waiver application:

• the reasons that the service is unable to comply with specified elements or regulations
  
• details and evidence of any attempts made to comply with the specified elements or regulations
  
• the period for which the waiver is sought and the reasons for seeking that period
  
• details of steps taken or that will be taken to comply with the specified elements or regulations
  
• the measures being taken or that will be taken to protect the wellbeing of children being educated and cared for by the service while the waiver is in force.
  

The Evidence for Waiver Applications information sheet (PDF, 143KB) explains what documentation to submit with the application according to which type of waiver is sought.

In assessing the application, the Regulatory Authority will consider the service’s waiver history, plans and strategies to ensure that the safety, health and well-being of children and staff will not be impacted, length of the waiver sought and evidence of genuine attempts to comply with the legislated requirements.

Some examples of evidence which may be requested to support the temporary waiver application include:

• Evidence of occupancy (number of children attending) over the renovation/repair period.
• Relevant service plans, diagrams or photographs, including measurements of unencumbered indoor/outdoor space available to children over the renovation/repair period.
  
• Details of the scope of works, including proposed dates for the works.
• Evidence to support that appropriate risk management measures are in place whilst the repairs are taking place, such as a risk management plan. Consideration should be given to visitors/tradesman accessing the building, noise during rest times, dust, tools/power cords and any other risks or hazards that the construction will present with details on how each risk will be managed.
• Evidence of notice given to parents regarding the works and risk management strategies/plans in place and available for review.
  
• Details or photographs of the fencing that will be placed around the work areas, i.e. will there be mesh to prevent climbing and debris hazards, what is the height of the fencing, where will the fencing be placed?
  
• Details of strategies to promote quality experiences in natural environments and engage and develop children’s gross motor skills during the waiver period. For example, a roster for access to available outdoor space, planned excursions or adaptations to the environment, facilities and/or equipment.
• If relevant, any changes to evacuation plans or procedures for rooms affected if the current emergency evacuation plans are impacted by the works.
• Evidence of communication to staff regarding:
• risk management strategies/plans
• changes to evacuation plans and procedures.
  

The department may need to request further information or inspect the service’s premises as part of its assessment as to whether to grant or refuse the waiver.

The health, safety, wellbeing and educational and developmental outcomes of children is the primary concern in the assessment of temporary waiver applications. A waiver will not be granted if appropriate steps are not being taken to adequately manage any risks to children.

For more information, visit waivers under the NQF.

During certain times of disaster and/or emergency, the Regulatory Authority may waive temporary waiver application fees. This is the case for services impacted by the 2022 flood disaster. If you are uncertain whether you need to pay a temporary waiver fee, please contact your regional office.

It is the decision of the service’s approved provider to close or re-open an early childhood education and care service in response to or following a disaster.

It is also the legal responsibility of the approved provider to ensure the service can meet all requirements under the National Law and National Regulations (or have a temporary waiver in place) before re-opening a service.

The Regulatory Authority will work closely with services directly impacted by a disaster to provide information, advice and support to help them re-open safely.

If your service is required to close long term, consider the following steps:

• Identify services within your own umbrella of services, or the availability of services in the local area, for children to be relocated to temporarily, ensuring these alternative locations have capacity for more children. In this case, children should be enrolled in the education and care service that they will be attending.
  
• Where other alternatives are not available, a request to relocate the service to an alternate space will require a new service approval (under regulation 25A). In this instance, please contact your local regional office.
  
• Liaise with the Commonwealth and the Queensland Kindergarten Funding Scheme to discuss ongoing funding and viability of the service.
  
• Consider applying for a ‘voluntarily suspension’ of your service approval. An approved provider may apply for a voluntary suspension of a service approval while closed and put the service approval ‘on hold’ for up to 12 months.
  
  

No, under the National Regulations an excursion means an outing organised by an education and care service or family day care educator. Relocating children temporarily to another approved education and care service premises does not meet this definition.

Where a child is being provided with education and care at another education and care service premises, the service must have capacity for more children, and the children must be enrolled in that service.

If educators or staff are unavailable, you will need to consider whether your service can operate at reduced capacity and/or whether you need to apply for a temporary waiver.

In times of disaster or emergency, the Regulatory Authority may fast track and/or grant a temporary waiver if an approved provider cannot meet certain requirements, including qualification requirements. For further information about staffing requirements and leadership, visit the waivers for staffing page.

If your service is operating while an application for temporary waiver is being assessed, you must continue to comply with staffing and qualification requirements until your waiver application has been assessed and you have received an outcome from the department.​