The NQF is the national system for regulating and improving most education and care services. Its parts have different functions and must be read together.

The connected parts

• Education and Care Services National Law
• Education and Care Services National Regulations
• National Quality Standard
• assessment and rating process
• approved learning frameworks
• state and territory regulatory authorities
• ACECQA as the national authority

The NQS organises quality into seven connected areas. Practice should not be divided into isolated boxes because one decision often affects several Quality Areas.

1. QA1 Educational program and practice: child centred curriculum, intentional and responsive teaching, assessment and planning, critical reflection.
2. QA2 Children’s health and safety: wellbeing, health practices, supervision, incident and emergency management, child safety and protection.
3. QA3 Physical environment: safe, suitable, inclusive and well maintained environments that support learning and sustainability.
4. QA4 Staffing arrangements: organisation of educators, continuity, professionalism and collaborative practice.
5. QA5 Relationships with children: respectful, equitable relationships, dignity, rights and support for collaborative learning and self regulation.
6. QA6 Collaborative partnerships: family participation, access, inclusion, transitions and community engagement.
7. QA7 Governance and leadership: governance systems, risk management, roles, educational leadership and continuous improvement.

The NQS is assessed at standard and element level. Quality must be evident in practice, discussion and documentation, not only written in a policy.

ACECQA is the national authority. It guides implementation of the NQF, publishes the Guide to the NQF, maintains national registers and systems, approves qualifications and learning frameworks, supports consistency and awards the Excellent rating.

VECRA is Victoria’s independent early childhood regulator. Since 1 January 2026 it has replaced QARD’s regulatory functions. VECRA approves, monitors, assesses and rates services; receives notifications and complaints; investigates non-compliance; enforces the law; and regulates the Child Safe Standards for early childhood services.

Assessment and rating

Authorised officers consider observed practice, professional discussion and documentation. Ratings include Significant Improvement Required, Working Towards NQS, Meeting NQS and Exceeding NQS. Excellent is separately awarded by ACECQA.

A role title matters because the Law and Regulations allocate particular responsibilities. One person may hold several roles, but the roles are not interchangeable.

• Approved Provider: holds provider and service approvals and has overarching responsibility for lawful, safe operation, governance, staffing, policies, notifications and systems.
• Person with management or control: has authority, responsibility or significant influence over planning, direction or control of service delivery. This is not automatically every manager or committee member.
• Nominated Supervisor: is nominated by the Approved Provider, consents in writing and has specified responsibilities for day-to-day management under the National Law and Regulations.
• Responsible person: must be physically present whenever a centre-based service educates and cares for children. This can be an Approved Provider or person with management or control, a Nominated Supervisor, or an appointed person in day-to-day charge.
• Person in day-to-day charge: is appointed for periods of operational responsibility and must meet the applicable requirements. This appointment does not make the person a Nominated Supervisor.
• Educational leader: is designated in writing to lead development and implementation of the program and assessment and planning cycle. The role requires organisational support.
• Educators and staff: implement safe, lawful and quality practice within their role and remain personally responsible for applicable conduct, reporting and child safety duties.

NERPSA must establish organisation-wide systems that enable services to operate safely and lawfully. This includes service approvals, suitable governance, current policies, staffing and qualifications, responsible person arrangements, supervision, child safe systems, training, records, risk management, notifications, complaints, information management and continuous improvement.

How this is translated into practice

• current policies and procedures available through approved NERPSA sources
• clear delegations, role appointments and escalation pathways
• recruitment, screening, Worker Register and staff record systems
• training, induction and ongoing professional learning
• monitoring, service support, audits and corrective actions
• central management of significant complaints, incidents and investigations
• required notifications to VECRA and other authorities
• support for educational leadership, QIP and service improvement

Central systems do not replace service-level implementation. A policy is only effective when staff understand it, apply it, identify gaps and raise problems early.

From 27 February 2026, the paramount consideration applies to all people involved in operating and delivering education and care. Staff and volunteers must also comply with applicable child protection knowledge and training requirements, conduct requirements, policies and direct reporting duties.

Everyday responsibilities include

• actively supervising and protecting children
• treating children with dignity and never using inappropriate conduct or discipline
• following medical, incident, emergency, digital technology and authorised collection procedures
• maintaining ratios, required qualifications and responsible person arrangements
• implementing the educational program and contributing to assessment and planning
• maintaining privacy, confidentiality and accurate records
• reporting hazards, incidents, complaints, allegations and child safety concerns promptly
• taking direct statutory action when mandatory reporting or another personal duty applies
• cooperating honestly with NERPSA and regulators

Compliance means meeting applicable legal requirements. Quality considers the strength, consistency and effect of practice. Continuous improvement means using evidence to identify what should be sustained or changed.

A service can have attractive documentation and still be non-compliant. It can also comply with a minimum requirement while having significant room to improve quality. NERPSA expects both compliance and genuine improvement.

Evidence in everyday practice

• staff can explain why they act, not only point to a policy
• practice matches current procedures across different days and staff
• children and families experience safety, dignity, inclusion and participation
• records are factual, timely, complete and retrievable
• incidents and complaints lead to review and corrective action
• QIP actions arise from evidence and are evaluated for effect