National Quality Framework
All governments in Australia recognise the importance of experiences that children have throughout childhood, and the impact those experiences have on their present and future health, development and wellbeing. In December 2009, they agreed through the Council of Australian Governments to a partnership to establish a National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care service provision.
The National Quality Framework comprises legislation, regulations and procedures by which long day care, family day care, outside school hours care and preschool services across Australia are regulated. Central to this Framework is the National Quality Standard which specifies the required features of the education and care services provided for Australian children.
National Quality Standard
The National Quality Standard is informed by research about day-to-day program elements that optimise children’s learning and development. These elements are organised into a series of standards, which make up seven quality areas, listed below.
| Quality Area 1 | Educational program and practice |
| Quality Area 2 | Children’s health and safety |
| Quality Area 3 | Physical environment |
| Quality Area 4 | Staffing arrangements |
| Quality Area 5 | Relationships with children |
| Quality Area 6 | Collaborative partnerships with families and communities |
| Quality Area 7 | Governance and Leadership |