ACECQA games and activities: supporting NQF learning through play

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) offers a suite of free, quality-assured games and activities designed to support children’s understanding of National Quality Framework (NQF) concepts through play.

These resources are simple to use, printable, and adaptable across early learning, outside school hours care (OSHC) and training contexts.

What the ACECQA games include

NQF-themed learning activities
 

The games are designed to support exploration of key concepts such as safety and wellbeing, quality practices, children’s rights and agency, educator roles, and learning environments. Formats include matching games, card-based activities, board-style games, and sorting tasks.

Printable and ready-to-use resources
 

Most activities are available as downloadable PDFs and include clear instructions, materials lists, and suggested learning outcomes, supporting ease of implementation in busy service environments.

Adaptable across age groups and settings
 

While primarily designed for early childhood, many activities can be adapted for OSHC settings, primary school-aged children, and educator induction or training contexts.

Alignment with the National Quality Framework
 

The activities commonly link to key areas of the National Quality Standard, including:

• Quality Area 2: children’s health and safety
• Quality Area 3: physical environment
• Quality Area 5: relationships with children
• Quality Area 6: collaborative partnerships

This alignment supports integration into programming, documentation, professional learning, and family engagement.

Practical applications in ECEC and OSHC settings

For educators
 

These resources can support intentional teaching, reinforce learning around safety, rights and wellbeing, and provide structured transition or small-group experiences.

For OSHC providers
 

The activities are well suited to middle-primary age groups and can be implemented as part of group rotations or independent learning stations, supporting engagement while embedding NQF concepts.

For leadership and governance
 

The games can be incorporated into induction processes, professional development sessions, and quality improvement planning to strengthen NQF literacy across teams.

Further information and access to the full suite of resources is available via the ACECQA games page.