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National Quality Framework and Queensland legislation

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​​​​​​​​​​​There are thousands of services that make up the early childhood education and care sector in Queensland. Approved early childhood education and care services are regulated under either the National Quality Framework or the Education and Care Services Act 2013 (Qld). The service type determines the legislation, if any, that applies to a service.

National Quality Framework

Most services are approved and regulated unde​r the National Quality Framework (NQF). These services include:

Education and Care Services Act 2013

Some Queensland education and care services are not captured under the NQF and are instead regulated under the Education and Care Services Act 2013 (Qld). These services include:

  • limited hours care, funded by the Queensland Government
  • occasional care
  • certain services that, as at 30 June 2018, were in receipt of funding under the budget-based funded program administered by the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training and were not approved for the purposes of the family assistance law.
  • early childhood education and care services that are also disability services under the Disability Services Act 2006 (Qld) 
  • stand-alone services.
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More on these topics

Unregulated services

Certain types of care are not regulated in Queensland. Generally this includes but is not limited to:

  • personal arrangements, for example, care shared by parents or provided by family members
  • care in a child's home
  • activity-specific classes, coaching or tuition
  • disability or early childhood intervention services
  • hotel or resort care
  • conference, sport facility or shopping centre care
  • mobile services
  • transition to school programs
  • vacation care offered for not more than 4 weeks a year
  • care provided by nannies or babysitters.

Help and support

Contact your local regional office if you need information to determine what legislation, if any, applies to an education and care service or arrangement.

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Last updated 28 August 2023