Guide to the NQF

The Guide to the National Quality Framework (NQF) is designed to help education and care providers, educators and authorised officers understand and apply the requirements of the NQF.

The Guide is not legal advice and should be read in conjunction with the National Law and Regulations, which take precedence over any guidance.

How to use the Guide

The Guide provides information for all types of service in all states and territories. It is not intended to be read from cover to cover, nor is all of the information within it relevant to every service. Rather, it has been designed as a comprehensive reference document to be referred to when seeking guidance on particular matters, such as applications and approvals, operational requirements, and the National Quality Standard.

The Guide has been designed as an online PDF document and will be updated as required. Any changes to the Guide will be added at the bottom of this page.

Along with ensuring that you will always be referring to the latest version of the Guide, another benefit of using the online PDF is that it enables you to quickly and easily search for content by key word(s).

Purchase a hard copy of the updated Guide to the NQF on our secure online payment portal.

Accessing the Guide

Download your copy:

Full version Guide to the NQF
Individual chapters in the table below.
Access a list of publications for further reading

Chapter
Section 1 - Introduction
Section 2 - Applications and Approvals
Section 3 - National Quality Standard and Assessment and Rating
Section 4 - Operational Requirements
Section 5 - Regulatory authority powers
Section 6 - Reviews
Section 7 - Glossary

Changes to the Guide

This Guide will be regularly updated with additional advice and improved guidance.

To ensure you have the most up to date information we suggest you always view the online version. Any changes to the Guide will be added to the below table.

Download a print-friendly summary of the 2020 regulation amendments

Download a print-friendly copy of the table of changes

Navigate directly to changes specific to Western Australia adapting the 2018 National Quality Standard.

Release date	Chapter	Section/s	Summary of change
Jan-20	4: Operational Requirements	Quality Area 4: Staffing arrangements and mainly 4.1 – 4.5	Amended sections on requirement for second ECT or ‘suitably qualified person’ in centre-based services with 60 or more preschool age or younger children
Jan-20	2: Applications and Approvals	1.1 - Application for provider approval	Further clarification of approved providers who are not individuals and persons with management and control
Oct-18	2: Applications and Approvals	2.1 – What is an education and care service?	Further information and clarification provided in table Services out of scope of the National Quality Framework.
Oct-18	2: Applications and Approvals	1.1 – Application for provider approval	Further clarification on the definition of ‘persons with management or control’.
Oct-18	2: Applications and Approvals	1.2 – Considering an application for fitness and propriety	Further clarification on evidence of management capability provided.
Oct-18	2: Applications and Approvals	2.1 – A transport service	Explanation on transport considered part of an education and care service.
Oct-18	3: National Quality Standard and Assessment and Rating	1.3.1 – Assessment and Planning Cycle	Diagram discussing assessment and planning cycle has been amended for clarification.
Oct-18	3: National Quality Standard and Assessment and Rating	2.2.1 – Assessment guide for meeting Element 2.2.1 (for all services)	Further clarification provided surrounding safe sleep and rest practices and recommended authority.
Oct-18	4: Operational Requirements	4.2.2 – Early Childhood teacher illness or absence	Further explanation under Regulation 135 surrounding early childhood teacher illness or absence. State specific guidance provided under National Regulation 135 and 272.
Oct-18	4: Operational Requirements	4.5.6 – Responsibilities of the approved provider, nominated supervisor and family day care educator	Text amended in table Centre-based services with children preschool age and under to reflect wording of National Regulations.
Oct-18	4: Operational Requirements	7.1 – Policies and Procedures	Standards within table Required policies and procedures for all service types and table Additional policies and procedures for a family day care service, amended to reflect 2018 National Quality Standard.
Oct-18	4: Operational Requirements	7.3 – Serious incidents, change of circumstances and complaints	Removal of word ‘significant’ in places within table Serious incidents, change of circumstances and complaints to notify to reflect wording of the National Regulations.
Oct-18	7: Glossary	Preschool Program	Definition of Preschool program amended to reflect scope of the National Law.
Oct-18	7: Glossary	Officer	Definition of Officer included within the scope of the Corporations Act 2001.

Guide amendments specific to Western Australia - October 2018

Change date	Chapter	Section/s	Summary of change
Oct-18	2: Applications and Approvals	1.2 – After an application has been determined	Information regarding the Duration and Effect of provider approval specific to Western Australia has been included.
Oct-18	2: Applications and Approvals	1.5 – Determining am application for provider approval in case of death or incapacity of approved provider	Clarification on the definition of executor specific to Western Australia has been included.
Oct-18	2: Applications and Approvals	2.2 – Applications for service approval including request for approval of a family day care venue	Information on date specific changes has been included for service approvals in Western Australia.
Oct-18	4: Operational Requirements	4.4.1 – Maximum number of children	Information specific to Western Australia regarding the maximum number of children in an emergency has been included.
Oct-18	4: Operational Requirements	4.5.1 – Family day care co-ordinator to family day care educator ratios	Information on date specific changes has been included for service approvals in Western Australia.
Oct-18	5: Regulatory Authority Powers	3 – Enforceable undertakings, When can it be used?	Clarification on when a person has contravened the National Law specific to Western Australia has been included.
Oct-18	5: Regulatory Authority Powers	11.2 – Receiving the warrant	Information specific to Western Australia defining the scope of a magistrate has been included.

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Your feedback and suggestions will help us to refine this product. Email our Enquiries team at enquiries@acecqa.gov.au.