ACECQA publishes disability rights and obligations information sheets to support inclusive practice

The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) has published a suite of Disability Rights and Obligations Information Sheets to help early childhood education and care (ECEC) services better understand their legal responsibilities and strengthen inclusive practice for children with disability.

The resources provide practical guidance on the application of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and explain how approved providers, nominated supervisors, educators and other service staff can support children's participation in education and care on the same basis as their peers.

The information sheets are designed to support services in understanding their legal obligations while providing practical examples of how inclusion can be embedded in everyday practice.

Topics covered include:

• understanding disability rights in education and care
• legal obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act
• making reasonable adjustments
• consulting with children and families
• creating inclusive environments and programs
• supporting participation through everyday practice.

The resources are written in accessible language and are intended to support professional learning, team discussions, induction processes and continuous quality improvement.

A key focus of the guidance is the concept of reasonable adjustments, changes that enable children with disabilities to access and participate in education and care on the same basis as other children.

The information sheets encourage services to work collaboratively with families when considering a child's individual strengths, needs and circumstances, recognising that there is no single approach to inclusion.

The guidance also reinforces that decisions should be made on an individual basis and that adjustments may relate to learning environments, communication, routines, equipment or other aspects of a service's program.

The resources remind services that discrimination on the basis of disability is unlawful under the Disability Discrimination Act and that approved providers have a responsibility to support equitable access and participation.

The information sheets also highlight the relationship between disability rights legislation and the National Quality Framework, demonstrating how inclusive practice supports quality outcomes across the National Quality Standard.

For many services, the resources provide a practical reference for reviewing policies, enrolment practices, family partnerships and educational programs through an inclusion lens.

The publication of the information sheets follows the expansion of the Disability Standards for Education to most early childhood education and care services, which took effect on 1 August 2026.

While the Disability Standards clarify how existing obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act apply within ECEC settings, the legal obligation to prevent disability discrimination and make reasonable adjustments already exists.

The new ACECQA resources provide services with practical guidance to help translate those obligations into everyday practice, supporting inclusive decision-making and stronger outcomes for children and families.

Access the ACECQA resources here.