National Quality Framework

In December 2009, all Australian Governments agreed to a new National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care. This means that all Australian children, regardless of their location, will get the best possible start in life through high quality early childhood education and care and school age care services. The Framework will help providers improve their services in the areas that impact on a child’s development and empower families to make informed choices about which service is best for their child. 

The National Quality Framework includes:

• a national legislative framework that consists of the Education and Care Services National Law and Education and Care Services National Regulations
• a National Quality Standard
• an assessment and rating system
• a regulatory authority in each state and territory who will have primary responsibility for the approval, monitoring and quality assessment of services in their jurisdiction in accordance with the national legislative framework and in relation to the National Quality Standard.
• the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

ACECQA, the new national body is responsible for providing oversight of the new system and ensuring consistency of approach.

(taken from www.acecqa.gov.au)

Early Years Learning Framework

This is Australia’s first national Early Years Learning Framework for early childhood educators. The aim of this document is to extend and enrich children’s learning from birth to five years and through the transition to school.

The Council of Australian Governments has developed this Framework to assist educators to provide young children with opportunities to maximise their potential and develop a foundation for future success in learning. In this way, the Early Years Learning Framework (the Framework) will contribute to realising the Council of Australian Governments’ vision that:

“All children have the best start in life to create a better future for themselves and for the nation.”

My Time Our Place

The Council of Australian Governments has developed My Time, Our Place – Framework for School Age Care in Australia (The Framework) to assist educators to provide children with opportunities to maximise their potential and develop a foundation for future success in life. In this way, the Framework will contribute to realising the Council of Australian Governments vision that:

“All children have the best start in life to create a better future for themselves and for the nation.”

For more information, please visit the department of education website;

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/Pages/default.aspx