ACECQA invites services to register interest in Quality Support Program

Eligible early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are being encouraged to register their interest in participating in the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority's (ACECQA) Quality Support Program (QSP), a tailored initiative designed to help services strengthen quality practice, build leadership capability and support continuous improvement under the National Quality Framework (NQF).

The program provides targeted support to eligible services through practical coaching, mentoring and evidence-informed guidance, helping approved providers and service leaders strengthen systems, improve practice and build confidence ahead of future Assessment and Rating.

The Quality Support Program recognises that every service is different, with its own strengths, challenges and priorities.

Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, the program works alongside participating services to identify opportunities for improvement and develop practical, sustainable strategies that can be embedded into everyday practice.

Support is tailored to each service's context and focuses on building long-term capability rather than simply preparing for a regulatory assessment.

Participating services receive structured support from experienced quality specialists, with activities designed to strengthen leadership, governance and educational practice.

The program may include:

• tailored quality coaching and mentoring
• support to strengthen self-assessment and continuous improvement processes
• leadership development and professional conversations
• guidance on applying the National Quality Standard in practice
• access to practical tools, resources and evidence-based strategies
• assistance identifying priorities for ongoing quality improvement.

The collaborative approach is intended to help services build confidence, strengthen internal systems and embed sustainable improvement over time.

A key focus of the program is supporting service leaders to drive continuous improvement within their own organisations.

Strong leadership, reflective practice and effective governance are recognised as essential foundations for delivering high-quality education and care. By working directly with approved providers, nominated supervisors and educational leaders, the program aims to strengthen decision-making, build team capability and support a culture of continuous learning.

The initiative also reinforces that quality improvement extends well beyond compliance, encouraging services to develop systems that continually enhance outcomes for children, families and educators.

The Quality Support Program comes at a time when many services are navigating significant change across the ECEC sector.

Ongoing child safety reforms, evolving regulatory expectations, workforce challenges and increasing governance responsibilities continue to place pressure on service leaders. Programs such as the QSP provide an opportunity for eligible services to access practical support while strengthening systems that contribute to long-term quality improvement.

For many providers, the program also offers an opportunity to review existing practices, refine Quality Improvement Plans and build greater confidence ahead of future Assessment and Rating visits.

ACECQA is inviting eligible services interested in participating in the Quality Support Program to register their interest through its website.

Participation is targeted to services that meet the program's eligibility criteria, with the initiative designed to provide tailored support where it can have the greatest impact.

As Australia's ECEC sector continues to evolve, initiatives such as the Quality Support Program reinforce that quality is not achieved through Assessment and Rating alone, but through ongoing reflection, strong leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement.

By combining coaching, practical resources and professional support, the program aims to help participating services strengthen practice, build capability and improve outcomes for children, families and educators.

Complete the registration of interest here.