Education and Care Services in the Northern Territory

Contributed by MelissaRussell and current to November 2024

Quality Education and Care NT (QECNT)

Quality Education and Care NT (QECNT) is the regulatory authority in the Northern Territory (NT) responsible for the administration of the National Quality Framework (NQF) in approved education and care services in the NT. This includes long day cares; preschools; outside hours school care, including before school, after school and vacation care; and family day cares.

Core objectives of the NQF include ensuring the safety, health and wellbeing of children, as well as improving educational and developmental outcomes for children attending services. The NQF consists of the Education and Care Services (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (National Law) , Education and Care Services National Regulations (National Regulation) , approved learning frameworks and the National Quality Standard (NQS).

In order to meet these core objectives, the functions of the Regulatory Authority are to:

• assess services against the NQS and determine the ratings of those services
• monitor and enforce compliance
• receive and investigate complaints arising under the National Law
• educate and inform education and care services and the community about the NQF
• undertake information collection, review and reporting for the purposes of the regulation of education and care services; reporting on the administration of the NQF; and the sharing of information under this Law.

Education and care services

To operate an education and care service in the Northern Territory you will need to apply to become an approved provider. This approval deems you suitable to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of children. Provider approval is recognised nationally and allows you to apply for service approval/s.Approved providers must exercise effective leadership, governance, and management to meet their legal obligations. Providers must also employ suitably qualified and experienced nominated supervisors, educational leaders, coordinators, and educators.

If you have been given provider approval and you wish to operate an an education and care service you will need to apply for a service approval which relates to the individual site or premises and the type of care provided. As part of an application for service approval, approved providers must identify the nominated supervisor for the service. The nominated supervisor must be over 18 years old, have adequate knowledge and understanding of the provision of education and care to children; and have the ability to effectively supervise and manage an education and care service.

For more information about applying for provider or service approvals, click here.

It is the approved provider’s responsibility to understand their obligations and operate according to the requirements of the National Law and National Regulations.

Approved providers and services have an obligation to notify QECNT about incidents, complaints, and changes to information about the approved provider or approved service.

This includes serious incidents, complaints, and circumstances where the health, safety or wellbeing of children may have been put at risk. Details of notification types and timeframes can be found on the ACECQA website.

Notifications and changes to information must be made within the required timeframes using the National Quality Agenda IT System .

Comprehensive information about the National Quality Agenda IT System can be found on the ACECQA website, this includes user guidelines and resources.

Complaints about education and care services

As part of its functions, the Regulatory Authority is required to receive and manage complaints about education and care services in the NT to which the National Law applies. Complaints may be made about:

• the approved provider or persons with management and control (PMC’s) of the education and care service
• a staff member, educator or volunteer at an education and care service
• matters relating to safety, health and wellbeing of children being educated and cared for by an education and care service
• non-compliance with the National Law and National Regulations.

If the Regulatory Authority receives information that suggests that the safety, welfare, or wellbeing of a child may be compromised, it must also make referrals to other relevant agencies including but not limited to the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities or NT Police.

The Regulatory Authority cannot manage complaints about education and care services that are declared out of scope services or education and care services that are excluded under the section 5(1) of the National Law.

Additionally, we cannot receive or investigate complaints about:

• the fees charged by education and care services
• the level of government preschool program funding allocated for an education and care service
• an unsuccessful government grant funding application lodged by an approved provider
• Hiring, firing or human resource issues within the education and care service
• the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), including any issues relating to applications and eligibility
• educator or other sector relevant employment conditions, including remuneration.

A complaint can be made to QECNT by:

• phone: (08) 8999 3561
• email: qualityecnt.det@education.nt.gov.au

Further resources

• Quality Education and Care NT Website - Quality Education and Care NT | Department of Education and Training
• Startingblocks website - StartingBlocks.gov.au - Australia's free government website for families and communities to find and compare services by quality ratings, fees, vacancies and inclusions.