ACECQA to take on responsibility for skilled migration ECT assessment 

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) will take on responsibility for the skilled migration assessment function for the ‘Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher’ occupation from 7 December 2024.

This transfer of responsibility from the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) to ACECQA aligns with Action FA2-2 of the National Workforce Strategy, and acknowledges the importance of having a streamlined process for individuals seeking both skilled migration and National Quality Framework (NQF) assessment to work in Australia as an early childhood teacher (ECT). 

All applications received by AITSL up until the end of Friday 6 December 2024 will be completed by AITSL. All new applications received from Saturday 7 December 2024 will be assessed by ACECQA.

Ahead of the transfer date the ACECQA Board has considered and determined the skilled migration assessment standards for the ‘Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher’ occupation. Full details are available on ACECQA’s website.

In addition, the ACECQA Board has reviewed and updated the requirements for individual qualification assessment applications under the NQF. All individual applicants for ECT equivalence will now be required to meet the following supervised professional experience requirement:

• 45 days supervised professional experience for early childhood teaching qualifications. 

This must include a minimum of 10 days supervised professional experience with children aged birth to under 3 years old (0 – 35 months)*, and a significant number (typically at least 25-30) of days in early childhood settings with children aged 3 until before they start formal schooling. The remaining balance may be undertaken with school age children.

*ACECQA will consider evidence of the following to satisfy the specific birth to under 3 years old (0 – 35 months) supervised professional experience requirement:

• significant work experience (typically 3-6 months) with children aged birth to under 3 years old (0 – 35 months)
• the completion of an ACECQA approved certificate III (or higher) early childhood education and care qualification
• the completion of relevant ‘non award’ unit(s).

Full details of the changes are available in the Guidelines for determination of equivalent early childhood qualifications.

Access this information in its original format here.