National Quality Framework
Australian childcare quality framework
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The National Quality Framework (NQF) is part of the Australian Government's agenda for early childhood education and child care focused on providing Australian families with high-quality, accessible and affordable integrated early childhood education and child care. The NQF aims to raise quality and drive continuous improvement and consistency in education and care services through:
- a national legislative framework
- a National Quality Standard
- approved learning frameworks
- a national quality rating and assessment process
- minimum qualifications of staff and educator to child ratios
- a new national body called the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority.
The National Quality Framework took effect on 1 January 2012 with key requirements being phased in over time. Requirements such as qualification, educator-to-child ratios and other key staffing arrangements were phased in between 2012 and 2020.[1] The Early Years Learning Framework version 2 (an approved learning framework) was endorsed and authorised by the Australian Education Ministers in January 2023.[2]
See also
- Early Childhood Australia, the peak early childhood advocacy organisation in Australia
- Early Years Learning Framework
- Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework
