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Closing a service in an emergency

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​​​​​​Natural disasters and emergencies are happening more frequently than ever and can pose serious risks to people and property.

Wherever possible, the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (Regulatory Authority) works closely with approved providers of services affected by a disaster to manage the impacts and ensure they can re-open their service safely.

Notifying the Regulatory Authority of emergency closures

Approved providers make the decision to close and re-open their early childhood education and care (ECEC) service/s and must notify the Regulatory Authority within 24 hours of the service closing.

ECEC services in Queensland regulated under the Education and Care Services National Law (National Law) should notify of service closures via the National Quality Agenda IT system (NQA IT system).

ECEC services regulated under the Education and Care Services Act 2013 (Queensland) (ECS Act) should notify of emergency closures via the ECEC Emergency Closures mailbox—ececemergencyclosures@qed.qld.gov.au.

Published information about service closures

It is essential that parents, caregivers and families have access to up-to-date information about ECEC service closures during an emergency.

Information about ECEC service closures is made available to the public via the service and temporary closure information tool maintained by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority.

Disaster recovery

The following frequently asked questions outline key issues to consider prior to re-opening a service following a disaster.

Please contact your local regional office with any other questions about regulatory requirements through the closure, clean-up and reopening process.

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 based on exceptional circumstances (under regulation 25A). In this instance, please contact your local regional office.
  • Liaise with the Commonwealth, and the department regarding Queensland kindergarten funding by emailing kindyfunding@qed.qld.gov.au, to discuss ongoing funding and viability of the service.
  • Consider applying for a voluntary 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.

Help and support

Regulatory Authority

Weather/events

Agencies

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Last updated 16 June 2025