National Quality Framework
The National Quality Framework (NQF) sets the national benchmark for early childhood education and care across Australia. It provides a consistent, high-quality approach to childcare services—helping parents understand what good care looks like and how to choose with confidence.
- What is the National Quality Framework?
- Key Components of the NQF
- Why the NQF Matters to You
- The Seven Quality Areas of the NQF
- Choosing a Service Under the NQF
- Recent & Upcoming Updates
- NQF Overview
- National Quality Framework Ratings in Goulburn
- How the National Quality Framework and National Quality Standard Work Together
- Frequently Asked Questions about the National Quality Framework
What is the National Quality Framework?
The National Quality Framework is Australia’s system for regulating early learning services, including long day care, family day care, preschool/kindergarten, and outside school hours care. Introduced in 2012, it aims to raise the quality of education and care for children, drive continuous improvement, and give families transparent information about service performance.
Key Components of the NQF
- National Law & Regulations – The Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations set the legal requirements for services.
- National Quality Standard (NQS) – A national benchmark structured around seven quality areas, used to assess and rate services.
- Assessment & Rating Process – State and territory authorities regularly assess services and assign ratings such as “Exceeding NQS” or “Meeting NQS.”
- Approved Learning Frameworks – These include “Belonging, Being and Becoming: Early Years Learning Framework” and “My Time, Our Place” for school-age care, guiding educators’ curriculum.
- ACECQA – The Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority administers the NQF nationally and supports consistency across states and territories.
Why the NQF Matters to You
Understanding the National Quality Framework helps you choose services with confidence. Parents can use NQF ratings to compare providers, ask about areas of strength or improvement, and feel reassured that services are monitored against clear national standards. Knowing what to look for—such as educator qualifications, health and safety, or community partnerships—empowers families to find the right fit for their child.
Choosing a Service Under the NQF
- Check the NQS rating on government sites such as StartingBlocks or ask your provider directly.
- Ask about the assessment date—look for recent ratings to ensure they are up to date.
- Explore each quality area—a service may excel in one area, such as “Educational Program,” while still working on improvements in another.
- Consider continuous improvement—services rated “Working Towards” may still provide high-quality care while actively addressing recommendations.
Recent & Upcoming Updates
In 2025, a series of national reforms to the National Quality Framework (NQF) came into effect, strengthening child safety, transparency, and accountability across early learning services. From 1 September 2025, all approved services must:
- Report any allegation, complaint, or incident relating to physical or sexual abuse to the regulatory authority within 24 hours (reduced from the previous seven-day timeframe).
- Implement clear policies and procedures for the safe use of digital technologies, including photography, video, service-issued devices, and the supervision of children using digital equipment.
- Prohibit vaping devices and related substances in education and care settings, in line with updated national health and safety expectations.
Further changes will take effect from 1 January 2026, including amendments to the National Quality Standard (NQS) that embed child safety more explicitly:
- Under Quality Area 2 (Children’s Health and Safety), Element 2.2.3 will be renamed Child Safety and Protection, strengthening expectations around identifying and responding to children at risk.
- Under Quality Area 7 (Governance and Leadership), leadership and management systems will need to demonstrate that services are child-safe by design, not just in policy.
These reforms reflect a national commitment to raising standards for children’s safety, wellbeing, and quality of care. Services in Goulburn and across Australia are now implementing the changes and preparing for the next stage of the rollout.
NQF Overview
| Component | What It Does |
|---|---|
| National Law & Regulations | Sets legal framework and operational requirements for services. |
| National Quality Standard (NQS) | Defines benchmark across seven quality areas. |
| Assessment & Rating | Evaluates services and publishes their performance. |
| Approved Learning Frameworks | Guide daily learning and educational planning. |
| ACECQA & Regulatory Authorities | Implement, monitor, and support service quality nationwide. |
National Quality Framework Ratings in Goulburn
For families exploring childcare in Goulburn, the National Quality Framework provides transparency through published ratings. Each service is assessed against the National Quality Standard (NQS), covering seven key areas. These ratings help parents compare services not just on convenience or cost, but also on proven quality benchmarks.
| Service Type | Examples in Goulburn | Typical NQF Rating* |
|---|---|---|
| Long Day Care & Preschools | Multiple centres across Goulburn CBD & suburbs | Meeting NQS / Exceeding NQS |
| Family Day Care | Home-based educators registered with schemes | Meeting NQS |
| Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) | Linked to primary schools in Goulburn | Meeting NQS (some services Exceeding in partnerships with families) |
| Community Preschools | Standalone preschools & not-for-profit services | Exceeding NQS in educational programs & practice |
*Note: Ratings vary by provider. Always check the most recent report on StartingBlocks.gov.au for up-to-date results.
How the National Quality Framework and National Quality Standard Work Together
Parents often hear both the National Quality Framework (NQF) and the National Quality Standard (NQS) mentioned when researching childcare. While they are connected, each has a slightly different focus:
| Aspect | National Quality Framework (NQF) | National Quality Standard (NQS) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The overall system that governs early childhood education and care in Australia. | The benchmark within the NQF that sets quality expectations across seven areas. |
| Focus | Law, regulations, approved learning frameworks, assessment & rating, and oversight by ACECQA. | Practical quality measures for services, including learning programs, safety, and governance. |
| For Parents | Explains the legal and regulatory foundation of childcare services. | Gives clear ratings (“Exceeding,” “Meeting,” “Working Towards”) to help compare services. |
Together, the NQF and NQS ensure that all childcare in Goulburn and across Australia is held to consistent national standards. To dive deeper into the seven quality areas, visit our National Quality Standard page.
Frequently Asked Questions about the National Quality Framework
Q: Who administers the NQF?
A: The NQF is administered by state and territory regulatory authorities who assess and rate services. ACECQA provides national oversight and guidance to ensure consistency across Australia.
Q: What does it mean if a service is rated “Exceeding” or “Excellent”?
A: “Exceeding” means the service performs above the national standard. Services that consistently show excellence across all seven areas can apply for an “Excellent” rating, awarded by ACECQA.
Q: Does the NQF apply to all childcare types?
A: Yes. The NQF covers long day care, family day care, preschool/kindergarten (in most states), and outside school hours care.
