Preparing NQF policies and procedures

Approved providers must ensure their education and care services have policies and procedures covering a range of areas set out in regulations 168 and 169 of the National Regulations.

This set of guidelines steps providers and their services through the information to consider when preparing and reviewing these policies and procedures. They offer a starting point to develop policies and procedures that are comprehensive, current and suited to each service.

As the guidelines have been prepared for use Australia-wide, services will also need to consider any relevant state or territory specific requirements when drafting their policies and procedures.

Regulation 170 of the National Regulations requires approved providers to take reasonable steps to ensure staff follow their service’s policies and procedures. How approved providers, and their services, take reasonable steps may look different, depending on the specific requirements of each policy and procedure and the issue they are designed to address. The ‘Six reasonable steps to ensure staff follow policies and procedures’ resource provides guidance for providers and services to consider when developing strategies to meet regulation 170.

Six reasonable steps to ensure staff follow policies and procedures

Guidance for providers and services to consider when developing strategies to meet regulation 170.

Guidelines

Acceptance and refusal of authorisations policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services to develop acceptance and refusal of authorisations policy and procedures.

Assessment and reassessment of residences and venues for FDC policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines for family day care providers and services to develop their assessment and reassessment of residences and venues for FDC policy and procedures.

Assessment of FDC educators, FDC educator assistants and persons residing at FDC residences policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines for family day care providers and services to develop an assessment of FDC educators, FDC educator assistants and persons residing at FDC residences policy and procedures.

Dealing with complaints policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services to develop their dealing with complaints policy and procedures.

Dealing with infectious diseases policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services to develop their dealing with infectious diseases policy and procedures.

Dealing with medical conditions in children policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services for developing dealing with medical conditions in children policy and procedures.

Delivery of children to, and collection from, education and care service premises policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services for developing policy and procedures for the delivery of children to, and collection from, education and care service premises.

Emergency and evacuation policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services to develop emergency and evacuation policy and procedures.

Engagement or registration of FDC educator assistants policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines for family day care providers and services to develop their engagement or registration of FDC educator assistants policy and procedures.

Engagement or registration of FDC educators policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines for family day care providers and services to develop their engagement or registration of FDC educators policy and procedures.

Enrolment and orientation policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services for developing enrolment and orientation policy and procedures.

Excursions policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services for developing excursions policy and procedures.

Governance and management policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services to develop their governance and management policy and procedures.

Incident, injury, trauma and illness policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services to develop their incident, injury, trauma and illness policy and procedures.

Interactions with children policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services for developing their interactions with children policy and procedures.

Keeping a register of FDC educators, co-ordinators and educator assistants policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines for family day care providers and services to develop their policy and procedures for keeping a register of FDC educators, co-ordinators and educator assistants.

Monitoring, support and supervision of FDC educators policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines for family day care providers and services to develop their monitoring, support and supervision of FDC educators policy and procedures.

Nutrition, food and beverages, dietary requirements policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services for developing nutrition, food and beverages, dietary requirements policy and procedures.

Payment of service fees and provision of a statement of fees charged by the service policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines for approved providers and services for developing their policy and procedures for the payment of service fees and provision of a statement of fees charged by the service.

Providing a child safe environment policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services for developing providing a child safe environment policy and procedures.

Provision of information, assistance and training to FDC educators policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines for family day care providers and services to develop provision of information, assistance and training to FDC educators policy and procedures.

Safe transportation of children policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines for providers and services on developing and updating policies and procedures in line with new legislative requirements for children’s safety during regular transportation from 1 March 2023.

Sleep and rest for children policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services to develop their sleep and rest for children policy and procedures.

Staffing policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services to develop staffing policy and procedures.

Sun protection policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services for developing their sun protection policy and procedures.

The administration of first aid policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services for developing the administration of first aid policy and procedures.

Visitors to FDC residences and venues while education and care is being provided to children policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines for family day care providers and services to develop their policy and procedures for visitors to FDC residences and venues while education and care is being provided to children.

Water safety policy and procedure guidelines

Guidelines and information for approved providers and services to develop water safety policy and procedures.