The National Quality Framework (NQF) is Australia’s system for regulating early childhood education and care. It provides a national approach to regulation, assessment and quality improvement. The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is an independent national authority that helps administer the NQF.
On this page:
What does the NQF include?
The NQF includes:
- laws and regulations
- quality standards
- approved learning frameworks.
National Law and Regulations
The National Law sets a standard for early childhood education and care across Australia.
The National Regulations support the National Law by providing detail on a range of operational requirements for early childhood education and care services.
Visit the ACECQA website to learn more about the national law and regulations.
National Quality Standard
The National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a national benchmark for early childhood education and care services. It promotes the safety, health and wellbeing of children. The NQS includes 7 quality areas.
Visit the ACECQA website to learn more about the NQS.
Regulatory authorities assess services against each of the 7 quality areas and give them an overall rating based on these results.
Visit the ACECQA website to learn more about the assessment and rating process.
Approved learning frameworks
There are two nationally approved learning frameworks that support and promote children’s learning.
Learn more about the frameworks on our approved learning frameworks page.
Who does the NQF apply to?
The NQF applies to most child care providers and services, including:
- Centre Based Day Care
- Family Day Care
- Outside School Hours Care
- Preschool and kindergarten.
Who administers the NQF?
State and territory regulatory authorities are responsible for administering the NQF.
The Australian Government funds an independent national authority, ACECQA, to:
- support state and territory regulatory authorities to administer the NQF, and
- promote continuous improvement and national consistency in service quality.
Visit the ACECQA website to learn more about the NQF.
The National Education and Care Services Freedom of Information Commissioner, Privacy Commissioner and Ombudsman deal with complaints about the bodies responsible for implementing Australia’s early childhood education and care regulatory system.
Visit the National Education and Care Services Freedom of Information Commissioner, Privacy Commissioner and Ombudsman website for more information.
Child Safety Review
In 2023, ACECQA conducted a review of 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.
Visit the ACECQA website to read the report from the child safety review.
New regulatory changes
On 1 September 2025, new regulatory requirements to keep children safe came into effect.
The new requirements relate to:
- policies and procedures about safe use of digital technologies (including CCTV)
- reporting incidents or allegations of physical or sexual abuse within 24 hours
- ensuring service environments are free from vaping substances and vaping devices
The changes are to the Education and Care Services National Regulations.
Read more about the changes on ACECQA’s website
Decision Regulation Impact Statement
Education Ministers met in Sydney on Friday 22 August 2025 for a special purpose meeting on safety in early childhood education and care (ECEC). As part of that discussion, ministers agreed to the reforms outlined in the Decision Regulation Impact Statement (DRIS).
The agreed reforms:
- were informed by public feedback and cost-benefit analysis
- reflect government and community expectations
- prioritise the safety of children above all else.
Ministers also agreed to a comprehensive range of National Actions to strengthen safety and quality of ECEC.
Read more about the National Actions
National model code for using electronic devices
As part of a range of responses to the review, ACECQA has released a set of recommended child-safe practices for using electronic devices in early childhood education and care.
The voluntary National Model Code represents best practice. It recommends that:
- only service-issued devices can be used when photographing and filming children
- personal devices can only be carried or used in limited circumstances
- strict controls must be in place for taking, sharing and storing images or videos.
Visit the ACECQA website to learn more about the national model code.
New guidance materials for improved child safety
As part of a range of responses to the review, ACECQA released new guidance materials for improved child safety. The new guides will help providers and services prepare for changes to the Education and Care Services National Regulations from 1 September 2025.
The NQF Child Safe Culture Guide helps embed child-safe cultures in education and care services.
The NQF Online Safety Guide provides support to keep children safe when using online and digital technologies.
Visit the ACECQA website to access the safety guides.
New guidance for early childhood education and care student assessments
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has developed new guidance for registered training organisations. Training providers can use this guidance when assessing ECEC students in the workplace.
The guidance also helps students understand their obligations during assessments at an ECEC service.
Training providers must follow child safe practices during student assessment in ECEC workplaces.
Direct observation is the preferred assessment method. Training providers may use live streaming where direct observation is not possible. For example, if the ECEC service is in a rural or remote setting. The training provider and ECEC service must mutually agree on this.
Training providers must be aware of child safety requirements and best practice recommendations. This includes the National Model Code for Taking Images and Videos.
ASQA developed this guidance in collaboration with:
- HumanAbility
- Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- Department of Education.
Visit the ACECQA website to access this guidance for providers.