SNAICC has lodged a submission on the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS) for proposed changes to the National Quality Framework (NQF). The NQF was established in 2012 to raise quality and drive continuous improvement and consistency in Australian education and care services.
The framework applies to most long day care, family day care, preschool/kindergarten and outside schools hours care services.
The purpose of the CRIS was to seek public comment on a number of proposed options for changes to the NQF, with a focus on how the options might affect the early childhood education and care sector, families and the community.
SNAICC has provided comments and recommendations on a number of key areas of particular relevance to our membership. These include the proposed simplification of the National Quality Standards, alternate assessment measures, and the inclusion of out-of-scope services — including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Budget Based Funded (BBF) services — in the NQF.
SNAICC’s position remains that, while it is desirable to explore how BBF services could be brought within scope, this would need to include a comprehensive consideration of the cultural appropriateness of the NQF to ensure that it is an appropriate framework to assess Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood services.
SNAICC has also provided comment on amendments to the assessment process to ensure that it is supportive of and appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services.
The paper can be downloaded at the SNAICC website.
If you have any questions about our response, please contact SNAICC Policy Manager John Burton via email at john.burton@snaicc.org.au.
