Notifying the Regulatory Authority
Approved providers must notify the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (Regulatory Authority) of certain changes to service, staff or persons with management or control (PMC). This includes, but is not limited to:
- any appointment or removal of a PMC
- addition or removal of nominated supervisors (including if their blue card or teacher registration has been cancelled)
- intention to
transfer a service approval
- transportation of children
- the hours and days of service operation
- the ages of children being educated and cared for*
- the nature of education and care provided*.
*These changes may require an application for amendment of service approval.
For more information, visit the notifications to the Regulatory Authority page.
Amending a service approval
In Queensland, most services have a condition on their service approval that restricts the age range and nature of care approved. If approved providers want to change an aspect of their service that is subject to a condition, they must apply for an amendment of service approval (National Law
section 54).
This allows the Regulatory Authority to ensure compliance and identify and prevent possible risks to ensure that each service has the facilities, staffing qualifications and knowledge specific to the age group of children attending.
Changes to the age range and nature of care may require approved providers to make changes to:
- resources, furniture and equipment to ensure safety and age-appropriateness
- programming/documentation (e.g. different
approved learning frameworks may apply)
- staffing—both numbers and qualification requirements
- physical environment (e.g. fencing, food and bottle preparation areas, physical spaces to enable appropriate supervision of children in each age group)
- policies and procedures, particularly in relation to emergencies and evacuation.
Approved providers may also apply to amend their service approval if they seek to increase the approved number of children at their service.
Approved providers must ensure the updated service premises complies with the National Quality Framework, including the physical environment requirements outlined in
National Regulations 103-115 and National Quality Standard, in particular
Quality Area 2: Children’s health and safety and
Quality Area 3: Physical environment.
Local planning and development requirements
Applications may also have implications for local authority (local council) planning and development requirements. Approved providers will need to give the Regulatory Authority written evidence:
- from the local council that increasing the service’s maximum number of children will not breach any planning and development requirements
- from a
building practitioner of
- ongoing compliance with the relevant version of building standards under the building approval and that the amenities offered at the premises align with those required under the relevant building standards (e.g. correct ratio of junior toilets, washbasins and suitable nappy change facilities)
- that the indoor and outdoor space at the premises align with the requirements under regulations 107 and 108.
Submit your application in the
National Quality Agenda IT System (NQAITS).
Additional information for appointing new PMCs
Approved providers must notify the Regulatory Authority of the of any appointment or removal of a PMC of an education and care service operated by the approved provider
within 14 days. To add new PMCs, approved providers must:
- Ensure each new PMC has registered with
Provider Digital Access (PRODA), which is used by the Regulatory Authority and the Australian Government to verify and authenticate their identity
- Submit 1 notification of change to information about approved provider (PA08 form)
online via the
National Quality Agenda IT System (NQA ITS), accompanied by the following documents
for each new PMC
- completed and signed
PA02—declaration of fitness and propriety form (PDF, 557KB)
- a photocopy of either a current Positive Notice Blue Card (blue card) for child-related employment issued by Blue Card Services, Department of Justice and Attorney-General, or, if the person is a teacher or police officer, a photocopy of their exemption notice. If the person does not hold either (as relevant), they will need to provide evidence they have made an application to Blue Card Services
- (if the PMC is a new member of the governing body or committee) evidence to support the addition of a new PMC, such as
- for a company, a company report from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission which shows the current directors and secretary
- for an eligible association, a copy of annual general meeting minutes that reflects the current office bearers.
The Regulatory Authority may request evidence of management capability for each PMC, which may include completion of an online assessment and/or attendance at an interview. Read more on the
assessment of provider approval applications page.
Help and support
If you have questions about notification of change to information requirements, please email
ecis@qed.qld.gov.au.
Read the following ACECQA resources to guide you through making notifications: