NQF Evaluation Framework

The NQF Evaluation Framework was developed so that governments and their regulatory agencies have an agreed way of understanding whether and how the NQF is meeting its objectives.

Universities, research institutions, governments and other stakeholders are encouraged to contribute to the NQF evidence base by commissioning, undertaking or supporting research that aligns with the framework.

ACECQA research and evaluation strategy

ACECQA's research and evaluation strategy (2021-24) sets out our approach to research and evaluation under the NQF.

NQF Snapshots

View current and previous NQF Snapshots, which provide an overview of the Australian children’s education and care sector, including the progress and results of quality assessment and rating against the National Quality Standard (NQS).

NQF Annual Performance Report

ACECQA’s eighth annual performance report focuses on five fundamental aspects of the NQF.

The report shows continuous improvement across all seven quality areas of the National Quality Standard (NQS). It tracks the continuous year-on-year improvements in service quality since the NQF was established in 2012.

See all Annual Performance Reports.

Occasional Papers

ACECQA publishes a series of occasional papers on different aspects of the NQF.

• Occasional Paper 1: Quality Area 1: Educational Program and Practice 
• Occasional Paper 2: Quality Area 2: Children’s Health and Safety 
• Occasional Paper 3: Promoting consistency and efficiency under the NQF 
• Occasional Paper 4: Quality Area 3: Physical environments 
• Occasional Paper 5: Quality Area 7: Leadership and management in education and care services 
• Occasional Paper 6: Quality rating reassessments 
• Occasional Paper 7: Quality ratings by socio-economic status of areas
• Occasional Paper 8: The first decade of the NQF
• Occasional Paper 9: Serious incidents – injury, trauma or illness

Quality improvement research project

A report detailing findings from research commissioned by ACECQA on the drivers of quality improvement, conducted by Macquarie University, Queensland University of Technology and Edith Cowan University in 2019.

The research focused on long day care services that had improved their overall quality rating. It identified practices supporting of quality improvement in educational program and practice and governance and leadership.

Information sheets have been developed to support providers, service leaders, educational leaders and educators in all service types.

Quality improvement research project report 

Information sheet - Practical ideas to support continuous quality improvement 

Information sheet - Using your assessment and rating report to support quality improvement

Education and care sector research

• Quality Rating Terminology Initiative Research
  Arising from the 2019 NQF Review, this report was led by the NSW Department of Education on behalf of all jurisdictions. It identifies the most appropriate descriptive terminology for each quality rating label within the quality rating system and how to communicate quality to parents, and families.
• Shining a Light on Early Childhood Educators' Work: A report from the Australian study Exemplary Early Childhood Educators at Work: A Multi-Level Investigation
  This report draws on the five-year Australian Research Council funded study Exemplary Early Childhood Educators at Work. Three phases include a time use diary, focus groups and case studies to examine what exemplary early childhood educators do and what enables their work. The findings and recommendations provide compelling evidence to inform policy, organisations/employers and educators themselves to provide the highest quality education and care for children.
• Early Childhood Education and Care Study
  The Australian Government commissioned Jobs and Skills Australia to undertake a capacity study on the workforce needs of Australia’s early childhood education and care sector. This study provides critical evidence and insights to support current and future workforce planning for this important sector.
• Play based learning and intentionality resources (2023)
  These practice resources produced by the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) identify strategies that assist in improving intentionality in play-based learning. They have been developed to be used in conjunction with AERO's early childhood learning trajectories and have been aligned to the EYLF V2.0 Principles. Topics include Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships; Partnerships; Respect for diversity; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives; Equity, inclusion and high expectations; Sustainability; Critical reflection and ongoing professional learning; and Collaborative leadership and teamwork.
• Assessment for children's learning resources (2023)
  These practice resources produced by the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) identify strategies that assist in improving assessment for children's learning. They have been developed to be used in conjunction with AERO's early childhood learning trajectories and have been aligned to the EYLF V2.0 Principles. Topics include Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships; Partnerships; Respect for diversity; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives; Equity, inclusion and high expectations; Sustainability; Critical reflection and ongoing professional learning; and Collaborative leadership and teamwork.
• Promoting equity for multilingual children in early childhood (2023) This report by the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) uses national early childhood datasets to explore experiences – in ECEC and at home – that appear to contribute to more equitable outcomes for emerging multilingual children. 
• Measuring vulnerability and disadvantage in early childhood data collections (2023)
  This report identifies options for feasible child-centred indicators of disadvantage. It was prepared by the Centre for Community Child Health for the Australian Government Department of Education. The work was undertaken in partnership with the University of Melbourne.
• Education Policy Outlook in Australia (2023)
  The OECD have produced this policy profile on education in Australia as part of the Education Policy Outlook series, which presents comparative analysis of education policies and reforms across OECD countries. Building on the OECD’s substantial comparative and sectoral policy knowledge base, the series offers a comparative outlook on education policy.
• The Early Advantage 2: Building Systems That Work for Young Children (2019)
  The Center on International Education Benchmarking have produced a book summarising the key elements of six high-performing early childhood systems. Detailed information about early childhood systems and case studies in Australia, England, Finland, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea are also available to download.
• A Smart Investment for a Smarter Australia: Economic analysis of universal early childhood education in the year before school in Australia (2019)
  The Front Project has commissioned a comprehensive analysis of the economic impact of early childhood education. The model looks at the impact of the current Australian system, which provides an early childhood education program for 15 hours a week, delivered by a Bachelor qualified teacher, in the year before school.
• Early Learning Matters (2018)
  The OECD’s International Early Learning and Child Well-being Study is designed to help countries to improve children’s early learning experiences, to better support their development and overall well-being.‌ This brochure contains further information on the study and how to get involved.
• A review of the effects of early childhood education (2018)
  This literature review from the NSW Department of Education’s Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation presents Australian and international evidence on early childhood education and its impacts on children's learning and development.
• Report Card: The Wellbeing of Young Australians (2018)
  The latest report card from the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth presents data on Australia's performance against a range of health and wellbeing indicators as compared with other OECD countries.
• Lifting Our Game: Report to the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools Through Early Childhood Interventions (2017)
  This report was commissioned by the state and territory governments of Australia to complement the Australian Government’s Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools. The report provides recommendations on the most effective interventions in early childhood, with a focus on school readiness, improving achievement in schools and future success in employment or further education.
• Building the Future: Children and the Sustainable Development Goals in Rich Countries (2018)
  This report card offers an assessment of child wellbeing in a number of domains including access to quality education and care and lifelong learning across 41 countries in the European Union and the OECD.
• Quality is key in early childhood education in Australia (2017)
  This report from the Mitchell Institute explores process quality in Australian early childhood education and care.
• The relationship between teacher qualification and the quality of the early childhood education and care environment (2017) 
  This meta-analysis provides evidence of a significant and positive correlation between teacher qualification and quality with respect to the learning environment for all young children in ECEC settings, including infants and toddlers.
• A critical review of the early childhood literature (2017)
  A critical review of the key and influential evidence on the value of preschool for three year olds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and those from disadvantaged backgrounds and the applicability of the international evidence to the Australian context conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.
• Language in Little Ones study (2017-18 onwards)
  A five year National Health and Medical Research Council funded longitudinal study run by Telethon Kids Institute. The study will investigate language exposure in the home environment of South Australian children aged 6 months to 5 years and how the volume and quality of language impacts on children’s learning and development at school. 
• The E4Kids study: Assessing the effectiveness of Australian early childhood education and care programs (Overview of findings at 2016)
  This longitudinal research was jointly funded by the Australian Research Council, Victoria and Queensland Departments of Education and Training, and led by University of Melbourne in collaboration with Queensland University of Technology. 
• Quality Early Education for All: Fostering, entrepreneurial, resilient and capable leaders (2016) 
  This report from the Mitchell Institute explores the challenges and opportunities facing the provision of early education in Australia.
• The impact of two years of preschool (2016)
  This report from the Mitchell Institute contains analysis of international test results (PISA, PIRLS and TIMSS) compares children with at least two years of preschool with those who attend no preschool or only one year.
• Preschool – Two Years are Better Than One Developing a universal preschool program for Australian 3 year olds – evidence, policy and implementation (2016) 
  This report from the Mitchell Institute explores the evidence showing the impact of two years of preschool, especially for the children most likely to be developmentally vulnerable. 
• Money, Love and Identity: Initial Findings from the National ECEC Workforce Study (2016)
  A three year national study funded by the Australian Research Council and undertaken by a multi-disciplinary research team from Queensland University of Technology and Charles Sturt University in collaboration with Crèche and Kindergarten (C&K), Goodstart Early Learning and the Queensland Department of Education and Training.

Regulatory Burden Reports

To monitor changes in perceptions and experiences of regulatory burden between 2013 and 2015, ACECQA undertook a three stage longitudinal study. ACECQA conducted a fourth regulatory burden study in 2017.

• Report on NQF and Regulatory Burden – Wave I 
• Report on NQF and Regulatory Burden – Wave II
• Report on NQF and Regulatory Burden – Wave III 

Results from the 2017, 2018 and 2022 surveys are available in the NQF Annual Performance Reports.

National Partnership Agreements

• Preschool Reform Agreement (2021-2026)
• Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration (2019)
• Universal Access to Early Childhood Education (2018-2021)
• Universal Access to Early Childhood Education (2020)
• Universal Access to Early Childhood Education (2018–2019) 
• Universal Access to Early Childhood Education (2018) 
• Universal Access to Early Childhood Education (2016–2017) 
• Universal Access to Early Childhood Education (2015) 
• Universal Access to Early Childhood Education (2013–2014) 
• National Quality Agenda For Early Childhood Education and Care (2015–16 to 2017–18) 
• National Quality Agenda For Early Childhood Education and Care (2009) 
• Early Childhood Education (2009–2012) 
• Closing the Gap on Indigenous Early Childhood Development (2009) 
• Indigenous Health - Closing the Gap: Indigenous Early Childhood Development (2009)
• Indigenous Health - Closing the Gap: Indigenous Early Childhood Development (2009)(superseded version)

Operational Activity Report

NQF foundation and review documents

National Quality Framework reviews

• Decision Regulation Impact Statement for changes to the National Quality Framework (DRIS) (2017) 
• Summary of all decisions outlined in the DRIS (2017)
• Consultation Regulation Impact Statement for proposed options for changes to the National Quality Framework (CRIS) (2014) 
• Decision Regulation Impact Statement for Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Reforms (DRIS) (2009) 
• Consultation Regulation Impact Statement for Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Reforms (CRIS) (2009)

National Quality Framework foundation

• Putting a value on early childhood education and care in Australia (2014) PwC 
• Evaluation of the Assessment and Rating Process under the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and Care and School Age Care (2012) 
• Early Childhood Development Workforce, Research Report (2011) Productivity Commission
• Information Paper on the Education and Care Services National Law and the proposed National Regulations (2010) 
• An economic analysis of the proposed ECEC National Quality Agenda (2009) 
• Investing in the Early Years (2009) COAG – A National Early Childhood Development Strategy 
• Economic Effects of a 1:4 Staff-Child Ratio for Under Two Year Olds in Child Care (2009) NSW Government 

Approved learning frameworks update

• Approved learning frameworks - current versions
• 2021 Approved Learning Frameworks Update website
• National Quality Framework Approved Learning Frameworks Update - Literature Review (2021) Macquarie University, Queensland University of Technology and Edith Cowan University on behalf of ACECQA 
• National Quality Framework Approved Learning Frameworks Update - Discussion Paper (2021) Macquarie University, Queensland University of Technology and Edith Cowan University on behalf of ACECQA 

Approved learning frameworks foundation

• SUPERSEDED - Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) - [Not approved for use under the NQF from February 2024]
• SUPERSEDED – My Time, Our Place: Framework for School Age Care in Australia (MTOP) - [Not approved for use under the NQF from February 2024]
• A national quality framework for early childhood education and care – Discussion paper (2009) Commonwealth of Australia
• A research paper to inform the development of an Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (2008) Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Victoria
• Analysis of curriculum learning frameworks (2008) VCAA
• Analysis of curriculum learning frameworks for the early years – Appendices (2008) VCAA
• Baseline evaluation of the Early Years Learning Framework – Final report (2011) DEEWR and Monash University
• Baseline evaluation of the Early Years Learning Framework – Appendices (2012) DEEWR and Monash University
• Baseline evaluation of the Early Years Learning Framework – Quantitative report (2013) DEEWR and Monash University
• Early Years Learning Framework – Fact sheet (2009) Commonwealth of Australia

Disability Standards for Education reviews

• Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) resources (2022) - ACECQA
• Inclusion of children with disability in early childhood and school age education and care - Consultation Summary Report (2021) Commonwealth of Australia
• Inclusion of children with disability in early childhood and school age education and care - Consultation Summary Report Appendices (2021) Commonwealth of Australia
• Children with disability in ECEC and school age education and care - Discussion paper (2020) ACECQA
• Final Report – 2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (2021) Commonwealth of Australia
• 2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (2020) Australian Government
• 2015 Review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (2015) Australian Government
• 2010 Review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (2010) Australian Government

Disability Standards for Education foundation

• Disability Standards for Education 2005 plus Guidance Notes (2005) Australian Government

Child Safety Review

The safety and wellbeing of children remains a priority for all governments and a key objective of the National Quality Framework (NQF). At the request of the Australian Government, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority has undertaken a review of child safety arrangements under the NQF. View the Terms of Reference and read the reports. 

NQF Review 2019

The 2019 National Quality Framework (NQF) Review recommended changes to the Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations, as well as additional guidance for the sector to enhance children’s health, safety and wellbeing. Regular reviews of the National Quality Framework ensure the regulatory system remains current, achieves its objectives and supports Australia’s approved services to provide high quality education and care to children and young people.

• Decision Regulation Impact Statement (DRIS)
• Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS)
• Supplementary information on the Child Safe Principles and the NQF
• NQF Review 2019: Consultation summary report
• NQF Review: Issues Paper
• 2019 NQF Review Terms of Reference
• Summary of NQF changes

Explanatory materials for NQF legislation

• Education and Care Services National Law Amendment Bill 2017 - Explanatory Memorandum (2017) Victoria 
• Education and Care Services National Law Bill 2010 - Explanatory Memorandum (2010) Victoria 

Child Care in Australia reports

• Child Care in Australia Australian Government

Australian Early Development Census (AEDC)

• AEDC data and reports Australian Government

National Workforce Census

• Early Childhood Education and Care National Workforce Census (2024)
• Early Childhood Education and Care National Workforce Census (2021)
• Early Childhood Education and Care National Workforce Census (2016)
• Early Childhood Education and Care National Workforce Census (2013)
• Early Childhood Education and Care National Workforce Census (2010)
• Australian Government Census of Child Care Services (pre-2010)

Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Resources

Spotlight reports – topics covered include early childhood teachers, inclusive education, initial teacher education, the value of the teaching profession, professional learning for rural, regional and remote teachers, and early career teacher induction and attrition rates.

Early Childhood Teachers In Focus – 2022 data on the career lifecycle of registered early childhood teachers and early childhood/primary qualified teachers in Australia.

Initial Teacher Education Data reports – annual data reports providing key insights into the future of teaching.

Australian Teacher Workforce Data reports – annual data reports examining the national initial teacher education pipeline and workforce characteristics.

Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) Resources

AERO produces evidence-based resources and information for teachers and educators, including a dedicated Early childhood practices hub. Topics covered include family engagement for early learning, executive function and self-regulation, early literacy and early numeracy.

AERO has published the first empirical Australian evidence linking NQS quality ratings to outcomes.

Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) Resources

Strategic reviews - ASQA’s strategic review program examines serious systemic risks to Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector. Topics covered include Training for early childhood education and care in Australia, 2015.

Focus on compliance - Spotlight On series - topics covered include trainers and assessors, assessment and assessment validation.

Starting Strong reports (OECD)

Starting Strong VI (2021) – Supporting Meaningful Interactions in Early Childhood Education and Care
Starting Strong: Mapping quality in Early Childhood Education and Care​ (2021) Interactive platform supporting the study and measurement of factors shaping quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings
Quality Beyond Regulations in ECEC Country Background Report – Australia (2021)
Providing Quality Early Childhood Education and Care (2019) Results from the Starting Strong Survey 2018
Engaging Young Children (2018) – Lessons from Research about Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care
Starting Strong 2017 (2017) – Key OECD Indicators on Early Childhood Education and Care
Starting Strong V (2017) – Transitions from Early Childhood Education and Care to Primary Education
Starting Strong IV (2015) – Monitoring quality in early childhood education and care
Starting Strong III (2011) – A quality toolbox for early childhood education and care
Starting Strong II (2006) – Early Childhood Education and Care
Starting Strong I (2001)

Report on Government Services

ACECQA submissions

• Childcare inquiry (2023) Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
  ACECQA submission
• Draft Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL) Consultation (2024) Jobs and Skills Australia
  ACECQA submission.
• Early Childhood Education and Care (2023) Productivity Commission
  ACECQA submission 1; ACECQA submission 2
• Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) comprehensive review - consultation round 1 (2023) Australian Bureau of Statistics
  ACECQA submission
• Updating the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (2022) Australian Bureau of Statistics
  ACECQA Submission 1; ACECQA submission 2
• SA Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care (2022) South Australian Government
  ACECQA submission
• Employment White Paper Consultation (2022) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission
• Review of Australia's Migration System (2022) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission
• National Teacher Workforce Action Plan (2022) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission
• Quality Initial Teacher Education Review (2021) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission
• Vocational Education and Training Skills Reform (2021) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission
• Consultation on automatic mutual recognition (2020) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission
• Inq​uiry into education in remote and complex environments (2020) Australian House of Representatives
  ACECQA submission
• Mental Health (2020) Productivity Commission
  ACECQA submission
• Review of the modern award (2019) Fair Work Commission
  ACECQA submission
• Australian Qualifications Framework Review (2019) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission
• Review of the Melbourne Declaration (2019) Council of Australian Governments Education Council
  ACECQA submission
• Vocational Education and Training Review (2019) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission
• United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child (2018) Australian Human Rights Commission
  ACECQA submission
• Inquiry on status of the teaching profession (2018) Australian House of Representatives
  ACECQA submission
• National Review of Teacher Registration (2018) Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership
  ACECQA submission
• Consultation on unduly short courses and training product reform (2018) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission 
• Review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (2018) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission 
• The effect of red tape on childcare (2018) Australian Senate
  ACECQA submission
• Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education (2018) Australian Government
  ACECQA submission
• Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Jobs for Families Child Care Package) Bill 2015 (2016) Australian Senate
  ACECQA submission  
• Education Evidence Base Inquiry (2016) Productivity Commission
  ACECQA initial submission
  ACECQA post-draft submission
• Childcare and Early Childhood Learning (2014) Productivity Commission
  ACECQA initial submission
  ACECQA post-draft submission
• The immediate future of the childcare sector in Australia (2014) Australian Senate
  ACECQA submission 
• The delivery of quality and affordable early childhood education and care services (2014) Australian Senate
  ACECQA submission 

Families Research

Families Qualitative Research Project 2018 (Hall & Partners Research)

Results of qualitative research, undertaken in the first half of 2018, exploring themes including influences on parents and carers’ decision‑making processes for selecting a service and feedback on Starting Blocks.

Families Research Project Pilot Study 2014 (Hall & Partners Research) 

Results from ACECQA’s families research (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021) are available in the NQF Annual Performance Reports.

ACECQA Annual Reports

Annual Report 2022-23
Annual Report 2021-22
Annual Report 2020-21
Annual Report 2019-20
Annual Report 2018-19
Annual Report 2017-18
Annual Report 2016-17 
Annual Report 2015-16 
Annual Report 2014-15 
Annual Report 2013-14 
Annual Report 2012-13 
Annual Report 2011-12 

ACECQA Information Publication Plan

ACECQA takes a proactive approach to publishing information and makes a range of information available for public access.

For more information, visit our Freedom of information disclosure page. This includes our Information Publication Plan and Information Publication Scheme.

Guidelines for participation and support for external research and evaluation

ACECQA welcomes and encourages high quality research that contributes to the NQF evidence base. Please read these guidelines and complete the application request form if you are seeking our support for, or participation in, external research and evaluation activities.