Northern Territory achieves record National Quality Standard results as 90% of services meet or exceed benchmarks

The Northern Territory has recorded its strongest National Quality Standard (NQS) results on record, with 90 per cent of childcare services now rated as either Meeting or Exceeding the NQS.

The milestone surpasses the Northern Territory Government's target of having 85 per cent of services meeting or exceeding all quality standards by December 2026 and represents the highest result since national quality ratings began being reported by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) in 2013.

The figures, released by the Department of Education and Training and based on ratings current as of 1 June 2026, highlight significant improvements across the Territory's early childhood education and care sector.

Quality targets exceeded ahead of schedule

The results form part of the Northern Territory Government's Safe Start, Strong Futures strategy, launched in December 2025 to strengthen quality, accountability and child safety across the sector.

Under the plan, the government established two key targets:

• 100 per cent of services to be rated Meeting or Exceeding in Quality Area 2: Children's Health and Safety by 30 June 2026.
• 85 per cent of services to be rated Meeting or Exceeding the overall National Quality Standard by December 2026.

The latest data shows the Territory has already exceeded its overall quality target six months ahead of schedule.

Minister for Early Education Jo Hersey said the results reflected a strong focus on quality, accountability and continuous improvement.

"By investing in quality, accountability, safety and workforce development, every child has the opportunity to thrive from the very beginning," she said.

Strengthening accountability and sector support

The government attributed the improvement to a combination of increased regulatory oversight and practical support for services working to improve their ratings.

As part of the Safe Start, Strong Futures initiative, Quality Education and Care NT (QECNT), the Territory's early childhood regulatory authority, was expanded with five additional positions, including three compliance officers and two educative officers.

The additional resources were designed to strengthen accountability while also providing services with guidance and support to address areas requiring improvement.

According to the government, the expanded regulatory team has enabled a more proactive approach to supporting services to meet and exceed the National Quality Standards.

"I make no apology for holding high expectations when it comes to children's safety and wellbeing," Minister Hersey said.

Listening to the sector

Minister Hersey said engagement with educators, providers and early childhood professionals had informed the government's approach to improving quality outcomes.

"Over the past year, I have met with educators, providers and early childhood professionals across the Territory through visiting centres and hosting conversations with the Minister forums right across the Territory," she said.

"Listening firsthand to both the challenges they face and the incredible work they do every day to support children and families has been invaluable."

She added that families should have confidence that children are receiving safe, high-quality education and care services.

"Parents should have complete confidence that their children are safe, supported and receiving quality care while they work, study and contribute to our community."

A significant achievement for the Territory

The result is particularly notable given the unique challenges faced by the Northern Territory's early childhood sector, including workforce shortages, geographic remoteness and service sustainability pressures.

The achievement also highlights the growing role of regulatory authorities in balancing compliance and enforcement activities with educative approaches that build service capability and support continuous improvement.

With 90 per cent of services now meeting or exceeding the NQS, attention will likely turn to the remaining services and the strategies needed to achieve the government's ambition of ensuring all Territory children have access to high-quality early learning environments regardless of where they live.

Read the full analysis here.