Sector Update

Making Payments to the Regulatory Authority

Dear Approved Providers,

Over the past few months, the Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU) has had an influx of queries from Approved Providers’ representatives, who have not been able to pay invoices, particularly for the Annual Fees, as they cannot access the National Quality Agenda IT System NQAITS payment portal.

To avoid late fees for your Annual Fee invoice and/or delays in processing your waiver applications please ensure relevant staff members (i.e., your accounts team) have login access for the NQA ITS portal to pay invoices.

It has also been noted by ECRU there has been an increase in the number of incorrect waiver applications.  Please make sure that before submitting a waiver application, you review it carefully and, if in doubt contact the Regulatory Authority for guidance to ensure you are applying for the right waiver against the correct regulation.

When the provider’s representative informs ECRU that there is an error, they are asking for payment of the second application to be waived.  It is not possible to waive the fees when a new correct application is lodged.  Providers are required to make payment for the correct application and where applicable a refund may be processed for incorrect payments. Please note that these refunds can take up to four weeks to be refunded, so a review of the final application is prudent.