ACECQA Newsletter Issue 5 2017

Almost three quarters of services rated Meeting NQS or above 

Figures in the latest NQF Snapshot show year on year improvement. As at 31 March 2017, 73% of children’s education and care services were rated at Meeting National Quality Standard (NQS) or above, up from 69% a year ago.

Of the 1959 quality rating reassessments undertaken, 61% resulted in an improved overall quality rating. Looking at services rated at Working Towards NQS, 69% of these improved their quality rating to Meeting NQS or above at reassessment.

Of the 15,593 children’s education and care services approved to operate under the NQF, 88% had a quality rating. Since there will always be a number of services that have only recently been approved or have only been operating for a short time, the proportion of services with a quality rating will not reach 100% at any one time.

The range of data included in the online version of the NQF Snapshot continues to expand, with new analysis about the NQS quality areas, standards and elements for each service sub‑type, as well as additional analysis about service waivers.

Both the PDF and online versions of the quarterly NQF Snapshot are available on the ACECQA website. NQS data for all services that have received a quality rating is also available to download as an Excel workbook. Please note that all data is as at 31 March 2017.

Reflection on the Reconciliation Symposium

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) hosted the National Reconciliation Symposium on the Gold Coast earlier this month. ACECQA was delighted to help Laureen Townsend from Warawyn Early Learning Centre, and Sujata Dalvi and Tommy Tan from Clarendon Children’s Centre, attend through ECA’s travel scholarship program. 

Laureen said the symposium was an amazing cultural experience, providing the opportunity to engage with educators and the sector and exchange ideas.

“I felt almost overwhelmed by some of the speakers’ stories and reconciliation journeys, in particular Youth Motivational Speaker, Marcus Pedro. Marcus not only had us grabbing for the tissues, but laughing and dancing in the aisles. His message of never giving up, even in the most adverse of circumstances, gave everyone something to think about.”

Sujata came away from the symposium with a clear idea of the path to travel with the children, families and colleagues at her service.

“Marcus inspired Tommy and I to be the change we want to see; to be the warriors; to create stronger, smarter jarjums* who have self-belief, self-worth and who are proud of themselves in whatever they do.”

Sujata and Tommy have some decisive actions to put into practice back at their service.

• Understand yourself, recognise that the stronger you are at your roots, you can branch out and have a shared language of inclusion.
• Start the reconciliation journey and do it from the heart.
• Be proud of the local indigenous culture and take steps to make the culture survive.
• Be brave to take strong action to reconcile Australia and understand that it is everyone’s responsibility.
• Develop a Reconciliation Action Plan using the Narragunnawali Program.

Well done ECA for a wonderful two-day symposium. ACECQA is proud to be a travel scholarship sponsor.

*Jarjums is an Aboriginal word for children used in a number of languages on Australia’s eastern coast.

Annual fee invoices

Annual fee invoices for the 2017-18 financial year will be issued by the end of the month via email. Use the National Quality Agenda IT System to check and update the email address that is recorded for your service.

The fee is payable in full for all service approvals held by the provider regardless of any subsequent transfers, suspensions or closures. Contact your regulatory authority for more information.

Register for workshops in South Australia

ACECQA will visit South Australia in June, offering Quality Practice Workshops with a focus on Educational Leadership.

The free sessions are open to all educators and providers and are led by ACECQA’s National Education Leader, in partnership with the Education and Early Childhood Services Registration and Standards Board and the Australian Council for Educational Leaders.

Visit our Events page to register.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Northern Territory, ACT, Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland Quality Practice Workshops.

State and territory winners announced

ACECQA, proud sponsor of the 2017 Australian Family Early Education & Care Awards, congratulates all state and territory winners.

We look forward to celebrating your work with children and families at the Awards Gala Dinner in Sydney in June. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the Australian Family website.