The Department of Education is the Regulatory Authority for early childhood services in Victoria.
The functions and powers of the Regulatory Authority are delivered by the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division (QARD).
Contact the early childhood Regulatory Authority in Victoria
Contact our central enquiry line or your local regional office.
Which early childhood services are regulated
Early childhood services are regulated in Victoria by two regulatory schemes. There are also services and activities that are not regulated.
Role of the Regulatory Authority
Information about the functions and powers of the Quality Assessment and Regulation Division (QARD), the Regulatory Authority in Victoria.
Make a complaint about an early childhood service or the Regulatory Authority
How to make a complaint about an early childhood service, or about regulation staff.
National Quality Framework
Most early childhood education and care services are regulated under a scheme known as the National Quality Framework.
Enforcement action taken by the Regulatory Authority
The Regulatory Authority publishes details of all statutory sanctions in the public interest.
Starting an early childhood service
Find out how to open an early childhood service in Victoria.
How to comply
Early childhood services - guidance
Best practice advice for implementing the Child Safe Standards in early childhood services.
Health, safety and wellbeing in early childhood services
Requirements and guidance for keeping children safe in early childhood services.
Staffing requirements for early childhood services
Staff requirements for teachers and educators in Victorian early childhood services, including details for working with children and criminal history checks and ratios.
Physical environment in early childhood services
Regulatory requirements for indoor and outdoor spaces in early childhood settings.
Emergency management in early childhood services
An emergency is an incident, situation or event that may adversely affect the safety or health of any occupants or visitors at the service or family day care residence.
Service administration in early childhood services
Policies and procedures, notifications and administrative requirements for early childhood services.
Excursions and regular outings in early childhood services
There are legal requirements when early childhood services and family day care educators take children on excursions
Enforcing compliance
Investigations at early childhood services
The department conducts investigations at early childhood education and care services.
Monitoring and compliance of early childhood services
As the Regulatory Authority in Victoria, we are responsible for monitoring services to ensure all providers and services comply with their legal obligations.
Enforcing compliance in early childhood services
QARD’s approach to ensuring compliance in all approved early childhood services.
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