ECRU Update
Legislative changes in effect on 1 July 2023
As noted on the ACECQA website, in 2022 Education Ministers agreed to outcomes from the 2019 National Quality Framework (NQF) Review including amendments to the NQF legislation.
These legislative changes require amendments to the National Law and National Regulations, with Western Australia (WA) to then make corresponding amendments to its WA Law and WA Regulations.
The changes to the National Law and the National Regulations will come into effect in two instalments on
- 1 July 2023, and
- 1 October 2023
The corresponding changes to the WA Law will not commence on 1 July or
1 October 2023. Further information on implementation including a timeframe, of those WA Law changes will be provided once the legislative changes are developed.
Not all of the corresponding changes to the WA Regulations will commence at the same time as the National Regulations amendments. Some, but not all, of the corresponding WA Regulations amendments will commence on 1 July 2023 in WA and align with the commencement of the National Regulations amendments. These are summarised in the following table below.
Further information on implementation of the remaining WA Regulations changes will be available once the legislative changes are developed and a timeframe is able to be determined.
General guidance regarding these changes, including a range of Information Sheets (for example, for short term relief of Educators) can be accessed on the ACECQA website at:
Changes to the NQF starting from 1 July 2023
Further changes to the WA legislation to implement the remaining 2019 NQF Review changes in WA are being progressed and another update will be provided when that legislation is closer to being made.
In addition to the changes to the WA Regulations arising from the 2019 NQF Review, WA has also implemented changes to the qualification requirements for educators of children over preschool age in outside school hours care to provide support to the sector while maintaining an appropriate standard of education and care for children. A separate ECRU Update will issue in respect of those changes.