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In this issue
December | 2017

Welcome to the final edition of the Quality Assessment and Regulation Update for 2017. 

In this issue we have information about:

• the revised National Quality Standard
• guidance for achieving an exceeding rating
• more information on the Reportable Conduct Scheme and Child Safe Standards
• information on thunderstorm asthma

Thanks for reading our newsletter this year and we'll see you early next year. If you've missed any issues, they're available on our website

Transitioning to the revised National Quality Standard in 2018
Starting in 2018 | All services

Services will be assessed and rated against the revised National Quality Standard (NQS) from 1 February 2018.

If your service is scheduled to be visited in February and March, you will be informed of this by letter in the next two weeks, and the actual visit date will be confirmed 10 days before the visit.

If you haven’t received a letter from us by Friday 15 December 2017, your service will not be assessed until at least April 2018.

Services with quality assessments scheduled to commence from April onwards will receive the usual written advice of the upcoming assessment 5 weeks in advance.

Find out more about the revised NQS here.

Achieving an exceeding rating - new guidance from ACECQA
Out now | All services

The new Guide to the National Quality Framework (NQF) is designed to help education and care providers, educators and authorised officers understand and apply the requirements of the NQF.

Chapter 3 Part A has information about the revised National Quality Standard (NQS) and the themes that need to be demonstrated by services to achieve a rating of Exceeding National Quality Standard.

A new fact sheet has recently been released by ACECQA: Transitioning to the revised National Quality Standard (PDF)

Check out the Guide now - see: Guide to the National Quality Framework

Embedding the Child Safe Standards will help you comply with the Reportable Conduct Scheme
Ongoing | All services

Early childhood education and care services need to prepare to comply with the Reportable Conduct Scheme. The Scheme focuses on worker and volunteer conduct and how organisations respond to suspected child abuse. It prescribes specific actions that the head of an organisation must take, so that reportable conduct is properly investigated and responded to.

The Scheme is being phased in over an 18-month period. Most early childhood education and care services will need to comply with the Scheme from 1 January 2019.

Some services need to comply earlier.
For example:

• education and care services operated by a school have already come into the scheme (from 1 July 2017)
• kindergartens run by an organisation that receives Department of Health and Human Services non-residential disability funding (from 1 January 2018).

For more information on when the scheme will apply to your organisation, see: For organisations: timelines

Child Safe Standards

All education and care services must comply with Child Safe Standards. The Child Safe Standards focus on the systems that organisations have in place to promote child safety, prevent child abuse and respond to suspected child abuse.

The Child Safe Standards aim to drive continuous improvement so that protecting children from abuse is embedded in everyday thinking and practice of a service’s leaders, staff and volunteers.

Find out more about the relationship between the Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme.

• How Child Safe Standards and the Reportable Conduct Scheme work together to keep children safe from abuse (PDF)
• Being a child safe organisation
• Reportable Conduct Scheme

Visit the Child Safety page on the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division website. See Child safety

Thunderstorm asthma: What can you do to be prepared?
FYI | For all services

Download and subscribe to the VicEmergency app to prepare your early childhood service for thunderstorm asthma

During grass pollen season there is an elevated risk of thunderstorm asthma in south-eastern Australia.

Children and staff who have been diagnosed with asthma, have a history of asthma or have undiagnosed asthma, as well as those who experience hay-fever are at risk of experiencing asthma symptoms.

Asthma symptoms can include wheezing, breathlessness, a feeling of tightness in the chest and a persistent cough during these weather conditions. An asthma attack can vary in severity and can be sudden, serious and life threatening.

VicEmergency App

Thunderstorm asthma warnings will be issued through the VicEmergency app on days of ‘HIGH’ alert.
This site provides thunderstorm asthma forecasting for up to two days in advance which can assist when planning outdoor events. 

What you should do

It is important that your service subscribes to the VicEmergency app to receive these warnings, and record that you have done this in your Emergency Management Plan.

Services should ensure that children have an asthma plan, and hay fever plan if required, and ensure that reliever medication is readily accessible.

Staff and children should avoid being outside during thunderstorms that occur between October and December - especially during the wind gusts that come before the storm.

During thunderstorms stay inside, close doors and windows and, if any air conditioners are on, turn them to recirculate.
Designated first aid staff should ensure they are aware and confident in administering asthma first aid.

For information on the VicEmergency app and how to download, see: VicEmergency app

For information on recognising an Asthma Emergency, see: Asthma Emergency