This page provides information for approved providers of education and care services captured under the National Quality Framework and the
Education and Care Services Act 2013 (ECS Act).
Roles and responsibilities—NQF services
Early childhood education and care services must meet a range of staffing requirements under the National Quality Framework (NQF). The NQF sets out the minimum
qualification and
educator-to-child ratio requirements for children's education and care services. This includes the number and type of roles required in a service.
Nominated supervisor
As part of an application for service approval, approved providers must identify the
nominated supervisor/s (PDF, 127KB) for the service.
Educational leader
Approved providers must designate, in writing, an
educational leader (PDF, 2.2MB) at the service.
The role of the educational leader is to:
- collaborate with educators and provide curriculum direction and guidance
- support educators to effectively implement the cycle of planning to enhance programs and practices
- lead the development and implementation of an effective educational program in the service
- ensure children's learning and development are guided by the learning outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework and/or the Framework for School Age Care or other approved learning frameworks.
Family day care coordinators
Approved providers of
family day care services must ensure there are sufficient coordinators available at any time the service is being offered.
For the purposes of section 163(1) of the National Law, all family day care services with service approvals issued after October 2017 require a minimum ratio of one full-time equivalent family day care coordinator for every 15 family day care educators for the first 12 months of service operation (regulation 123A) of the National Regulations.
Working with children check
Approved providers should have initial recruitment and ongoing employment processes to ensure that all staff continue to hold a positive notice blue card or exemption card.
Use the
Blue Card Services Organisation Portal to help manage your blue card obligations and records.
Approved providers should also ensure that staff are not prohibited persons, as these processes are separate assessments by different authorities.
Read more about
checking a person’s prohibition status.
Related information
Roles and responsibilities—ECS Act services
Approved providers
An approved provider must conduct an approved service in a way that has sufficient regard to the guiding principles of the ECS Act and ensures the safety, health and wellbeing of children educated and care for by the service.
Nominee
All services must have a nominee to act as the point of contact with the department. The nominee is appointed by the approved provider.
Approved providers must provide the name and contact details of the nominee for each approved service to the department in writing. This includes changes to nominee contact details.
Learn more about:
Nominee notification form.
Supervisor
An approved provider must appoint a supervisor.
A supervisor must:
- be present 75% of the time and most of the time during peak care periods if operating for less than 10 hours per day or 7.5 hours each day and as much as possible during peak care periods if operating for more than 10 hours per day (this does not apply to school age services or a service with a capacity of not more than 30 children for any part of the day)
- ensure children are adequately supervised, protected, educated and cared for
- ensure educator-to-child ratios and qualification requirements are met
- prepare and maintain policies
- help communication between staff and parents.
There is no limit to the number of supervisors in a service.
Staff
Staff required to meet
educator-to-child ratios must be at least 18 years old and hold (or be actively working towards) an approved qualification.
Working with children check
Approved providers should have initial recruitment and ongoing employment processes to ensure that all staff continue to hold a positive notice blue card or exemption card.
Use the
Blue Card Services Organisation Portal to help manage your blue card obligations and records.
Approved providers should also ensure that staff are not prohibited persons, as these processes are separate assessments by different authorities.
Read more about
checking a person's prohibition status.
Related information
-
Roles and qualifications—Learn about the qualifications required for each type of role in an early childhood education and care service.
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ECS Act resources—Access resources, forms and fact sheets related to operating a service under the ECS Act.