The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) has released its 37th NQF Snapshot report, summarising quality rating results for education and care services operating under the National Quality Framework (NQF). The NQF includes the Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations, which outline the minimum standards and requirements that all providers must meet to operate services. It also includes the National Quality Standard (NQS), which sets a high national benchmark and includes seven quality areas directly related to service quality.

The proportion of services rated by state and territory regulatory authorities as Meeting NQS or above has risen markedly since the NQF was introduced, from 57% in 2013, to 69% in 2016, to 87% today. More than two-thirds of services rated Working Towards NQS (67%) improved their overall quality rating at reassessment.

In addition to detailed information about the quality of education and care services, the Snapshot and interactive Online Snapshot include data about temporary service closures related to the impact of COVID-19 and other aspects of service regulation, such as staffing waivers.

Snapshot highlights include:

• 16,884 NQF approved education and care services across Australia
• 91% (15,373) services have received a quality rating
• 87% (13,369) of all quality rated services have an overall quality rating of Meeting NQS or above
• 38 Excellent rated services
• 64% (10,869) services with a quality rating against the 2018 NQS.