MyChild

National Regulations - A positive start for children

Shaping the future

As a parent you want to see children have the best possible start in life. We want our kids to be smart, healthy and happy. We want them to have more than we did and for them to develop as best they can.

Regardless of their location or family situation, we want our kids to have access to quality services and care and to have the best educators available. The early years are vital to the future health, development and wellbeing of our children.

At the moment there are some gaps in the area of early childhood education and care that prevent us from fully achieving these goals. The Australian Government aims to close these gaps through a reform agenda centred on providing children with access to high quality education and care from an early age.

The reforms touch all parts of the early childhood sector from babies through to children attending out of school hours care, ensuring centres are providing quality programs and that educators have the skills, training or experience to provide every child with access to positive early learning experiences.

On 14 October 2011, Kate Ellis, Minister for Child Care announced that the National Regulations that will underpin these changes have been approved by all of the Early Childhood Education and Care Ministers around the country.

These National Regulations are a key element of the National Quality Framework that comes into effect in January 2012. The benefit for families of the National Quality Framework include:

• more educators and staff in centres - the increased staff to child ratios will ensure each child gets the individual care and attention they need.
• new staff qualifications - there is not currently a requirement for educators working with children to have an approved early childhood qualification. Over the next 10 years, educators will have to have qualifications.
• a quality assessment and rating system - this will give families more information about services in their area to help them make their childcare decisions.

If you are interested in reading more about the National Quality Framework go to www.acecqa.gov.au.