The Australian Government is committed to improving the safety, health and wellbeing of children in early childhood education and care (ECEC).
On this page:
Working together
Federal, state and territory governments share responsibility for quality and safety. The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) supports governments by providing a national approach.
Safety in early childhood settings is supported by national- and state-level legislation. This legislation is enacted through:
- the National Quality Framework (NQF)
- Child Care Subsidy (CCS).
The Australian Government is responsible for:
- funding ACECQA, an independent national authority
- administering quality and safety measures related to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
- oversight of a small number of ECEC services that are out of scope of the National Quality Framework (NQF) and state and territory legislation.
State and territory governments are responsible for:
- regulating ECEC providers under the NQF
- enforcing compliance with the National Law and National Regulations.
ACECQA is responsible for:
- supporting all governments to administer the NQF
- promoting continuous improvement and national consistency in regulation of quality and safety in services
- supporting the early childhood education and care sector to improve outcomes for children.
ECEC providers and services
Providers are responsible for implementing safety and quality practices in their services. They must follow the NQF and relevant laws and regulations.
To continue getting CCS, providers must follow the law when administering the subsidy.
National Quality Framework
The NQF is Australia’s system for regulating ECEC. It provides a national approach to regulation, assessment and quality improvement. ACECQA helps administer the NQF.
State and territory-based education departments regulate quality outcomes for children across:
- health
- safety
- wellbeing
- education.
They do this under National Law through the NQF.
The NQF sets the rules for how education and care is delivered to children. The NQF includes two approved learning frameworks that support and promote children’s learning.
State governments must approve providers to deliver the NQF.
Equity, inclusion and diversity underpin the NQF. We have information and resources to help ECEC services ensure every child can access and be included in ECEC.
Reviews and strategies
The Australian Government conducts strategic planning, inquiries and evaluations into quality and safety.
The following reviews aim to ensure ECEC quality and safety policies continue to meet expectations.
Child safety review
In 2023, ACECQA reviewed child safety arrangements under the NQF.
The review found Australia has a very good system of early childhood education and care. However, more can be done to ensure the NQF remains contemporary and fit-for-purpose in the context of child safety.
The final report made 16 recommendations about:
- physical and online safety
- child supervision
- staffing requirements.
Child Care Subsidy Financial Integrity Strategy
Our Child Care Subsidy Financial Integrity Strategy outlines the department's approach to maintaining the integrity of the Child Care Subsidy system.
Inclusion Support Program review
The department has commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to review the Inclusion Support Program (ISP). The review will examine access to, affordability of, and quality of ISP services, and consider future program arrangements.
In Home Care review
The department has commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to review the In Home Care (IHC) program. The review will examine access to, affordability of, and quality of IHC services, and consider future program arrangements.
Community Child Care Fund restricted grant review
The department commissioned Deloitte to review the Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) restricted grant. Deloitte worked in partnership with SNAICC and Murawin.
The review examined how the grant is:
- improving early childhood development outcomes for vulnerable and disadvantaged children
- increasing workforce participation of vulnerable and disadvantaged families.