In Focus

Regulatory Spotlight

Qualification Requirements 

Approved Providers must ensure educators hold an approved qualification. The National Quality Framework (NQF) sets out the minimum qualification requirements for educators working in children's education and care services. There are some state specific qualification requirements for working with school age children (e.g. in outside school hours care services). 

To see if a person is qualified to work in an Australian education and care service you can:

1.    Use the qualification checker
2.    View the list of approved OSHC qualifications (Outside School Hours Care)
3.    Search the NQF approved qualifications list

Updates to WA Outside School Hours Care Qualifications

In response to an approach by the WA Outside School Hours Care Qualifications (OSHC) sector in 2022, the Hon Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Early Childhood Education has approved changes to the qualification requirements for educators of children over preschool age in OSHC.

These changes commenced on 1 July 2023.

The changes apply only in WA and replace the existing regulations 369 and 370 by combining them into a new regulation 369.

Under the new regulation 369:

• The table of educator to child ratios remains unchanged.
• A distinction is made between the first and all ‘other’ qualified educators by requiring a higher level of qualification for the first qualified educator to the other qualified educators.
• There is a provision for some (mainly the ‘other’ qualified educators) to be able to be ‘actively working towards’ a qualification rather than having to hold a completed qualification. 

The changes support services by increasing the potential workforce of educators of children over preschool age in OSHC and facilitate flexible workforce management.

For the purposes of the regulations the approved qualifications are to be determined administratively by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority.

For more information refer to the frequently asked questions on the Education and Care Regulatory Authority ECRU website under the Legislation heading.

Quality in Focus

2023 ECRU Roadshow

Information regarding the 2023 Roadshows has been sent to all approved providers and services. This year ECRU will be joined by guest speakers from Edith Cowan University, Reconciliation WA and the Ombudsman of Western Australia.

Sessions may vary across locations, so please review the flyer and book your chosen sessions via Eventbrite.

Any enquiries can be directed to ecruevents@communities.wa.gov.au

Book Sessions - Eventbrite

Virtual Group Next Assessment Support

and Advice (NASA) Discussions

In June ECRU hosted their first virtual NASA group discussions. These sessions provided great opportunities for educators and staff from participating services to engage with their early childhood education and care (ECEC) colleagues and ECRU staff. This method of assessment and rating support has replaced individual virtual discussions and will soon be replaced with quarterly NASA discussions made available to all services on an opt in basis. In addition, a pre-recorded session will be made available on ECRU’s website in 2024.

The change to group discussions aligns with WA’s 2024 implementation of refinements to the assessment and rating (A&R) process which includes reduced notice periods and the use of partial assessments.  

Further information about the 2024 A&R refinements implementation will be provided in the coming months.

Wellbeing in Early Childhood Communications Pack

The National Mental Health Commission is leading a project to develop National guidelines to support states and territories to include social and emotional wellbeing in early childhood health checks (covering children aged 0-5).

All states and territories include wellbeing milestones in their early childhood health checks. However, there is no nationally consistent approach. It is not intended that the guidelines would contain screening or assessment tools for social and emotional wellbeing in early childhood.

The Commission has engaged The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) to undertake a national online survey to inform the development of the National guidelines. They want to engage with a broad range of stakeholders which cover many of the touchpoints of early childhood - including parents, families and carers, GPs, nurses and health workers, early childhood educators, and peak bodies and professional associations for these groups.

About the survey:

• It is anonymous.
• It closes on 20 August 2023.
• It takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

The National Mental Health Commission invite you to share the information pack/details with your networks and have provided some copy and images in the Wellbeing in Early Childhood Communication Pack (bottom of the webpage) to help.

Latest  News 

Professional development subsidies to support your workforce – Australian Government Department of Education

We’ve sent emails to eligible providers with invitations to apply for two new subsidies designed to support professional development for your educators. 

The professional development subsidy supports qualified early childhood educators to undertake additional training.

The paid practicum subsidy supports early childhood teachers in training with paid placements to complete tertiary qualifications.

Initially, eligible providers are those with:
•    First Nations services and educators
•    services and staff in regional, remote and very remote locations.

If you’ve successfully applied for one or both subsidies, and you want to receive the grant before 30 September, you must submit your completed application by 18 August.

Applications for payments later in the 2023–24 financial year will still remain open.

Read more about workforce measures on our website.

Email ECECWorkforce@education.cov.au with any questions about eligibility for the subsidies or advice regarding your application.

Register for employer webinar series

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) hosted a new webinar series 'Hiring Outside the Box' to help you develop your workforce.

It includes industry experts and employers talking about recruitment strategies they’ve used, including the benefits of tapping into new pools of talent and hiring a diverse and inclusive team.

The first webinar took place on Wednesday 9 August.

Find out more on the DEWR website.

Calendar of Events

This month          Save the Koala Month Australian Koala Foundation

1 September        Indigenous Literacy Day 

4 September        Father’s Day

6 September        National Health and Physical Education (HPE) Day 

3-9 September    National Child Protection Week

6 September        Early Childhood Educators Day 

7 September        National Threatened Species Day

8 September        International Literacy Day

19 September    Talk like a Pirate Day - Pirate Day 2023

23 September      International Day of Sign Languages

25-27 September    Rosh Hashanah - Rosh Hashanah 2023 FAQ

27 September      Navaratri - Navratri 2023 - Navratri 2023 Start & End Dates