In Focus

Regulatory Spotlight

Inadequate Supervision 

Incidences of inadequate supervision continue to be investigated by the Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU) in response to notifications and/or direct complaints. Since 1 July 2022 there have been 161 confirmed breaches of section 165 – Offence to inadequately supervise children of the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act 2012. 

Inadequate supervision often causes or contributes to serious incidents at early childhood education and care services, whether it’s during indoor or outdoor play, routines or transitions or, while on excursions or during transportation.  

Approved providers are required to take reasonable steps to guide and mentor educators, so they understand service specific policies and procedures. Further, it is the approved providers responsibility to ensure that policies and procedures are adequately implemented at all times. 

Approved providers, nominated supervisors and educators should familiarise themselves with the applicable legislative requirements for supervision:

• Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act 2012 
  • Section 165 - Offence to inadequately supervise children.
  • Section 167 - Offence relating to the protection of children from harm and hazard.
• ACECQA Information Sheet - Active Supervision: Ensuring safety and promoting learning. 
• ECRU presentation - Adequate supervision: a fundamental practice  

Annual Fees – Frequently Asked Questions

1.  Where can I find unpaid invoices in the portal? 
Please visit the ‘ACECQA National Quality Agenda IT System - Quick Reference Guide’ at section 2 on page 14 for information on work with invoices. 

2.  What can I do if my screen doesn’t show the invoices search tab? 
Contact your provider to check your level of access.  

3.  Do I still need to pay the annual fees invoice if the service is under voluntary suspension?
Yes, as an approved provider you are required to pay an annual fee for each service approval held, including those services that are suspended. This is set out in section 53 of the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act 2012.

4.  Can I pay an invoice over the phone using credit card details?
No, credit card payments over the phone are not accepted. Please proceed with payment through the National Quality Agenda IT System (NQA ITS) portal.

5.  What can I do if I can’t find the email with the link to pay the annual fee invoice?
You still can access the unpaid invoices via invoice search for unpaid invoices in the NQA ITS portal. Please refer to question 1 for further guidance.

Quality in Focus  

How to Submit Provider Feedback  

Please submit provider feedback using the correct channel via the NQA ITS portal. When feedback is submitted via a notification or email, it does not link to the assessment and rating, which in turn creates technical issues and restricts ECRU from completing the review in the intended succinct manner and timeframe. 

On the NQA ITS portal, go to the ‘Assessment and Ratings’ button, type in your SE-ID (service) and click on the ‘A&R report feedback’ button.

Please note that size limits apply to attachments, and these are intended to manage the quantity of information being provided. It is recommended that you contact the authorised officer who completed your visit to determine what information has been considered as evidence, prior to submitting feedback. 

With the refresh to the national approved learning frameworks, the principle of ‘High expectations and equity’ has been renamed ‘Equity, inclusion and high expectations'. 

The expansion of this principle recognises:

• the recent research and understanding relating to inclusive learning environments and practices for children.
• the importance of inclusion in making visible and celebrating the diversity of children’s lives
• the right of all children to participate in quality and inclusive early childhood settings, regardless of their circumstances, strengths, gender, capabilities or diverse ways of doing and being.

To highlight the importance of inclusion, Inclusion Support Queensland recently hosted a 'Let's Talk Inclusion' podcast aimed at supporting reflection on quality inclusive practices which are woven throughout the National Quality Framework to ensure all children are included.

The podcast also shares information on ACECQA Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) resources which have been developed to help services gain a better understanding of their obligations under the DDA.

National Family Day Care Week celebrates its 11th year

The week of 1-7 May 2023 saw the family day care sector celebrate the 11th edition of annual National Family Day Care Week celebrations.

During the week hundreds of National Family Day Care Week picnics took place all across Australia, with family day care educators and services holding teddy bear picnics, superhero excursions and family morning teas to celebrate the week, many of which can be seen across social media using the hashtag #FDCWeek23.

A special National Family Day Care Week Picnic in the Park was also held at Stirling Civic Gardens in Western Australia by Family Day Care Australia (the national peak body for family day care), which saw over 75 educators, children and service staff in attendance. This event was also attended by The Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education and local Federal Member for Stirling.

National Family Day Care Week celebrates the vital role family day care plays in the development and wellbeing of over 85,000 Australian children. The week is integral to raising the image and profile of family day care and celebrates the unique benefits of the small group settings, personalised educational programming and flexible hours of care that make family day care the option of choice for so many Australian families.

Family Day Care Australia Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Paterson said, "National Family Day Care Week is a wonderful time for the family day care sector to come together each year and reflect on the crucial role family day care plays in the lives of Australian children, families and communities.”

Story supplied by Family Day Care Australia.

Supporting Children's Voice  

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child is undertaking a significant step towards ensuring that children live in a clean, green, healthy and sustainable world. The Committee is creating a General Comment on Children’s Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change (General Comment No. 26).  This included inviting people from around the world to contribute to General Comment No. 26.

The aim is to inform official United Nations guidance on how children’s rights are impacted by the environmental crisis and what needs to be done to uphold these rights.

To seek feedback from children aged birth to five, Woden Valley Early Learning Centre in the ACT created a survey. The survey provided children in early learning settings the opportunity to share their opinion on the environment. Their responses were documented and submitted to the United Nations.

Woden Valley Early Learning Centre also collated feedback from their and other services for submission to the United Nations in mid-February 2023. You can view the video submission on YouTube.

Latest  News 

Child Maltreatment in Australia

The recently released ‘Australian Child Maltreatment Study’ reveals the prevalence and harmful impacts of child maltreatment. The report calls for a long-term, nationally coordinated plan for reform to protect and support children who are at risk. Read the report here.  

Education Policy Outlook in Australia

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released ‘Education Policy Perspectives – Education Policy Outlook in Australia’ which profiles the current education policy landscape. The report notes the solid foundation that early childhood education and care (ECEC) provides for children and their outcomes later in life. 

ECEC Services for Remote Communities

Families in Australia’s most remote locations will benefit from the establishment of new community-run ECEC services. SNAICC has been engaged as the Community Partner for these new sites to support their establishment and ongoing implementation. Read more here. 

Roadshow Resources

During the 2022 Roadshows presented by the Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU), presentations were conducted regarding quality and compliance. Links to the video presentations are on the ECRU website.  

Video Presentations 

• Video - Top 5 non-compliances: The Swiss cheese effect
• Video - Staffing Requirements: advice from the Regulatory Authority and ideas from Approved Providers
• Video - Adequate Supervision: a fundamental practice

Sample documents were discussed with attendees for reference and in some cases, for adaptation for their own purposes.  The documents are not prescribed by ECRU for use by services and providers but have been shared by services to assist with the development of best practice.  

Services are encouraged to review updated legislation to ensure documentation is compliant.

Our thanks go to those ECEC services who shared their sample documents to educate our sector and share our best practice, tips and tricks.

Sample Documents Shared in 2022 Roadshows

• ECRU website - Resources (see Roadshow Resources) 

Calendar of Events - June

• All month - Pride Month.  Reflect on your inclusivity, challenge equality and explore social justice implications. Perhaps purchase some new books that are LGBTQ and inclusive, chosen by experts:

- Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean
- You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson
- Julian is A Mermaid by Jessica Love
- And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
- Proud of Me by Sarah Hagger-Holt

• 1 June - Global Day of Parents - The UN declared this day to stimulate awareness of the importance of parenthood and its role in providing protection and tools needed for positive development in children. Perhaps you can reflect on the needs of your families, relevant to your services unique context and plan an event to support and celebrate the role of parents. 
• 5 June - World Environment Day  
• 8 June - World Oceans Day 
• 8 June - National Buddy Day - is a national initiative developed by NAB and The Alannah and Madeline Foundation to celebrate friendship and help raise awareness of bullying in Australian primary schools.  
• 18 June - International Picnic Day – plan and prepare a healthy picnic with the children and get out into your local community. 
• 21 June - International Day of Yoga – perhaps a great opportunity to reflect on how your current practices support wellbeing and physical activity. 
• 22 June - Winter Solstice – Consider some intentional STEM activities in your program.