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The National Quality Framework (NQF) provides a national approach to regulation, assessment and quality improvement for early childhood education and care and outside school hours care services across Australia.

Children benefit when their routines and experiences at home and in early education and care services are similar and supportive of each other.

At times you may experience some level of dissatisfaction or even concern about the service you use. These tips may help you to effectively communicate any concerns you may have with the service, or to reach out to the regulatory authority of your state/territory for advice, or to lodge a complaint if necessary.

Quality programs for school age children and young people in services such as outside school hours care (OSHC) settings, are developed to support and guide children and young people in all areas of their wellbeing, learning and development.

If you’re trying to decide between a Family Day Care and a Long Day Care service, this information might be helpful.

Early childhood education and care services are required to create and maintain safe environments for children. Everyone has a role in keeping children safe in education and care services.

From 5 January 2026, the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) activity test is changing. All CCS eligible families can get 3 days of subsidised child care per week. These changes are known as the 3 Day Guarantee.

This article explains how early childhood education and care services can updates their service page details on StartingBlocks.gov.au.

Your child is now starting to test boundaries and can throw temper tantrums so it’s important you find ways for them to have a break to recharge their batteries. Their memory is developing fast and they can now talk about people who are not with them at the time. This is a time where your child’s imagination is soaring. They enjoy doing things outside the home, so it’s a great time to visit parks and playgrounds. Play time becomes a game of make-believe, where they practice skills and mimic situations they see around them. Use this time to talk to your child about respecting others so they learn how to play fair.

Creating a new SunSmart generation is important, and skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Research shows that childhood is a particularly vulnerable time when sun damage can increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Exposure to too much of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause sunburn, skin and eye damage and skin cancer.

This factsheet contains tips to keep in mind to encourage reading with a toddler. Have fun together enjoying stories and books.