19 January 2023

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE

Changes to transportation requirements apply from 1 March 2023

New requirements to enhance the safety, health and wellbeing of all children during regular transportation to and from centre-based care services commence on 1 March 2023. 

Transportation can present heightened risk to the safety of children when children get in or out of vehicles and when they arrive at or leave the service.

The following regulatory requirements will apply to centre-based services that provide regular transportation: 

• Approved providers and nominated supervisors must ensure that a staff member or nominated supervisor (other than the driver) accounts for children as they get in or out of a vehicle at an education and care service
   
• Approved providers and nominated supervisors must ensure records are made showing children are accounted for as they get in or out of a vehicle at the education and care service
   
• Approved providers and nominated supervisors must ensure records are made confirming a check of the vehicle was completed at the service after all children have left to ensure no children remain
   
• Approved providers must notify the regulatory authority when they start providing or arranging regular transport, and again when they finish. This can be done through NQAITS.