The National Quality Framework (NQF) Explained

If you are opening or running an early childhood education and care (ECEC) service in Australia, the National Quality Framework, or NQF, shapes nearly everything you do. It defines who can operate a service, the standards you are held to, and how your service is assessed and rated. Understanding it early saves time, reduces risk, and helps you build a service that families and regulators trust.

This guide explains what the NQF is, who administers it, and the main parts you need to know.

What the NQF is

The NQF is the national system that applies to most ECEC services across Australia. It was introduced to lift and standardise quality, replacing a patchwork of separate state and territory arrangements with a more consistent national approach.

In practice, the NQF covers most long day care, family day care, preschool or kindergarten, and outside school hours care services. It sets out the legal requirements a service must meet, the quality standard it is measured against, and the process used to assess performance over time.

The bodies involved

A common point of confusion is who actually regulates your service. The NQF operates through a partnership between a national body and the regulatory authorities in each state and territory.

ACECQA (national level)

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is the national body. It guides the consistent application of the NQF, supports the regulatory authorities, maintains national resources and registers, and oversees aspects of the system such as qualifications and the national approach to assessment and rating. ACECQA does not typically regulate your individual service directly.

State and territory regulatory authorities

The regulatory authority in your state or territory carries out the front-line work. This includes approving providers and services, conducting assessment and rating visits, monitoring compliance, and acting on concerns or breaches. Because some requirements and processes vary by jurisdiction, your regulatory authority is your primary point of contact for approvals and obligations.

The main components

The NQF is built from several connected parts. Together they form the rules you follow and the way your quality is judged.

The National Law and National Regulations

The Education and Care Services National Law (the National Law) is the overarching legislation, and it is supported by the Education and Care Services National Regulations (the National Regulations), which set out the detail. Between them they cover matters such as provider and service approvals, supervision, staffing and qualification requirements, the physical environment, health and safety, and record keeping.

Each state or territory applies the National Law, but some specific requirements can differ by jurisdiction, so always check the version and any local arrangements that apply to you.

The National Quality Standard

The National Quality Standard (NQS) is the benchmark your service is measured against. It is organised into quality areas covering aspects such as educational program and practice, children’s health and safety, the physical environment, staffing arrangements, relationships with children, partnerships with families and communities, and governance and leadership.

The NQS is what assessors look at when they visit. Knowing each quality area, and being able to show how your everyday practice meets it, is central to a strong rating.

The assessment and rating process

Services are assessed and rated against the NQS. This process looks at how your service performs in each quality area and results in a rating that reflects your overall quality. Ratings are published and visible to families, so they matter both for compliance and for reputation.

Preparing well, keeping good documentation, and maintaining consistent practice between visits all make a meaningful difference. The frequency and timing of assessments are managed by your regulatory authority.

National registers and approved learning frameworks

The NQF also relies on approved learning frameworks, which guide the educational program and practice your service delivers for children’s learning and development. In addition, national registers record information about approved providers, services and certified supervisors, supporting transparency across the system.

You can find plain-language definitions for many of these terms in our glossary.

Why it matters when opening or running a service

For a new service, the NQF determines the approvals you need before you can legally operate, including provider and service approval through your regulatory authority. Getting these steps right, in order, is essential to opening on time.

For an established service, the NQF is an ongoing responsibility. Compliance is not a one-off event at approval; it continues through daily practice, record keeping, staffing and the assessment and rating cycle. A clear understanding of the framework helps you avoid breaches, respond to changes, and steadily improve quality.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. The NQF is administered by your state or territory regulatory authority.

Get the right support

The NQF is detailed, and the stakes are high when you are opening or improving a service. If you would like help making sense of your obligations, preparing for assessment, or navigating approvals, please get in touch. We also offer dedicated licensing and accreditation support to guide you through each step with confidence.