Since 1st July, 2000, the Government changed the onus of responsibility for Child Care Benefit (CCB) from Centres to the parents. It is now the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their appropriate paperwork has been lodged, the percentage of Benefit received is correct, and that each service you attend is using the appropriate rate for the number of children in care.
Any family who is receiving CCB or the 50% rebate (CCR) from the Government are allowed forty two (42) absences inclusive of public holidays for their child in a financial year. All CCB payments including the 50% rebate (CCR) due to parents are dependent on parents signing accurate daily records of attendance. It is also the parents’ responsibility to fill out all of the required forms for both Family Assistance Office and for Trainease, as well as notify both of us if any circumstances have changed.
The Queensland Government’s Department of Education and Training, Office for Early Childhood Education and Care is responsible for the licensing of Child Care Centres. It is also responsible for the implementation of the Regulations, which governs the operation of Centres, and for making sure that these are adhered to. The Department will usually visit the Centre twice a year to ensure high quality facilities and care.
Until the end of this year 2011, The National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC) is responsible for ensuring that our Centre is providing high quality care. The NCAC is committed to Putting Children First and are the federal body responsible for the Accreditation of Centres. They assist child care professionals to deliver quality child care by providing services with advice, support and resources.
We also assist families to understand the value of quality care and make informed decisions when selecting a child care provider. Centres are assessed on Relationships with Children and Peers, Partnerships with families, Programming and Evaluation, Children’s Experience and Learning, Protective Care and Safety, Health, Nutrition and Wellbeing and Managing to support quality.
The National Quality Framework will put in place compulsory, national standards to ensure high quality and consistent Early Childhood Education and Care across Australia. This important reform will deliver a higher standard of care for children in the critical areas of education, health, and safety and will provide clearer and comprehensive information for families so they can choose the best services for their child.
The first five years of a child’s life shapes their future—their health, learning and social development and the National Quality Framework will ensure equality of national standards. It will require all providers to improve services in the areas that impact on a child’s development and safety and to provide families with quality information to help them make informed choices about services.
The changes will be implemented over 9 years and this will give Early Childhood Education and Care providers across Australia time to adjust to the new requirements. The first changes started in July 2010 during a transition phase where services began to undergo assessment against the new National Quality Standard. From 1 January 2012, all services will be assessed against the new National Quality Standard. The new framework will be in place by 1 January 2012, with changes to staff-to-child ratios and qualifications being phased in over a number of years.
