Tens of thousands of Victorian families will benefit from better quality early childhood services through legislation to improve the National Quality Framework.

The Education and Care Services National Law Amendment Bill 2017 includes a number of vital changes to lift quality and improve compliance to services in Victoria that will also be applied across the country.

Victoria has led the way on national efforts to strengthen regulation of quality and safety in early childhood education and care, including chairing the National Quality Framework review.

The Bill reflects the review’s recommendations that focus on improving early learning programs and practice, and reducing red tape for the early childhood sector. It also introduces tougher requirements for family day care operators and educators.

Victoria has already taken action to lift compliance in the family day care sector to help ensure children get quality early education in a safe environment.

This legislation strengthens requirements regarding the supervision of family day care educators as well as notifications of complaints by family day care educators and to ensure children are being educated in homes of a quality standard.

In 2016, 15 people were prohibited from operating services, while 6 were served emergency action notices, more than 30 had their provider approvals cancelled and one family day care educator and one approved provider were prosecuted. In December 2015, a joint Victorian Government and Australian Federal Police operation resulted in 12 Victorians being arrested and charged.

In Victoria the NQF covers about 4100 long day care, family day care, outside school hours care and preschool services.

We are making Victoria the Education State – this starts with giving every child a strong start in life.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“We know that better quality early childhood services, means a better start in life for our kids.”

“That’s why the Andrews Labor Government is taking action to lift quality in the early childhood sector.”

“While we continue to boost quality and compliance measures, we are cracking down on family day care providers who don’t live up to what we expect.”