What is an authorised officer

Authorised officers are employed by state and territory regulatory authorities. The roles and responsibilities of an authorised officer are set out in the Education and Care Services National Law and may include:

monitoring education and care services and enforcing compliance
assessing applications for approval
conducting assessment and rating visits
investigating incidents and complaints
providing advice and guidance.

While referred to in the law as 'authorised officers', job titles can vary across states and territories depending on their role and the regulatory authority. This table details some of the most common terms used in the states and territories to describe authorised officers.

For more information, read an overview of the components of national training for authorised officers.

ACT	Authorised Officers with some team members referred to as Senior Investigators
NSW	Authorised Officers are known as Senior Field Officers, Field Officers and Field Support Officers. They conduct assessment and rating visits, as well as undertaking compliance tasks across the jurisdiction. There is also a Compliance and Investigation team that investigate complex or serious incidents and/or high levels of non-compliance.
NT	Compliance Officers and Assessors
QLD	Authorised officers. In regional offices, they may also be referred to as an Early Childhood Manager or Early Childhood Officer.
SA	Authorised Officers and Senior Authorised Officers
TAS	Most staff are Authorised Officers. Roles include Education and Care Assessors, Regulatory Officers and Managers
VIC	Authorised officers
WA	Assessment Officers or Investigation Officers

Contact your regulatory authority

The National Law allows ACECQA to determine the requirements for regulatory authorities’ authorisation of Authorised Officers (s195(5)).