New year, new updates – additional ECT regulation now in play, Guide to NQF updated

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) has released updates that relate to the National Regulations around the much publicised new staffing arrangements for additional early childhood teachers (ECTs), which came into effect on 1 January 2020. 

Under Regulations 133 and 134, centre-based early childhood education and care (ECEC) services must have a second ECT, or another ‘suitably qualified person’ in attendance when 60 or more children preschool age or under are being educated and cared for on any given day.

Regulations 133 and 134 now apply in all states and territories except New South Wales, where  stronger minimum requirements for ECTs are already in place, under regulation 272.

Other minor changes to the National Regulations have been made, ACECQA said, to ensure they operate as intended and allow service providers facing workforce challenges more time to implement new requirements. 

A table listing all the changes has been created to support services to understand their obligations. In addition, the Guide to the National Quality Framework (NQF) has been updated to reflect these, and other minor changes. 

ACECQA will make available a link to the consolidated National Regulations once they are published, referring services to the Amending Regulation in the meantime.

Services with questions about the changes are asked to email [email protected] for further support.