National Childcare Accreditation Council

The National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC) was a non-profit organization based in Sydney, Australia, in operation between 1993 and 2011. The Council was funded by and accountable to the Australian Government and was responsible for administering Child Care Quality Assurance (CCQA). In December 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced a National Partnership Agreement to a New Quality Agenda to replace the regulatory processes administered by state and territory governments and the Child Care Quality Assurance systems administered by NCAC from January 2012.[1] The Council was superseded by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority.

Childcare quality assurance in Australia

Child care quality assurance in Australia was first raised as a political issue in the lead-up to the 1990 Federal election.[2] The Crawford Committee was established in 1990 and recommended the then Minister for Aged, Family and Health Services establish a national body to represent all interest groups in children’s services to oversee the accreditation process.[3]

This recommendation resulted in the formation of the Interim National Accreditation Council (INAC) in 1991. INAC presented a report to the Minister recommending accreditation be linked with receipt of Childcare Assistance.[3]

NCAC was established in 1993 to develop an accreditation and quality assurance system for Australian childcare services.[2] Her Excellency MS Quentin Bryce, AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia was the founding Chair and CEO of NCAC between 1993 and 1996.[4]

Family day care schemes, outside school hours care services and long day care centers, had to satisfactorily participate in the relevant CCQA system administered by NCAC in order to offer the Child Care Benefit as a fee reduction to parents and obtain funding support.[5]

The CCQA systems provided a framework for reviewing, measuring and improving the quality of work done by approved childcare providers.[6]

While there are voluntary accreditation systems for children’s services in other countries, the Australian CCQA system was linked to childcare funding through legislation and to be funded and supported by the government.[3]

Family Day Care Quality Assurance (FDCQA)

The FDCQA system, administered in participating family day care schemes, outlined 30 principles of quality care which were incorporated into six quality areas:

  1. Interactions
  2. Physical environment
  3. Children’s experiences, learning and development
  4. Health, hygiene, nutrition, safety and wellbeing
  5. Carers and coordination unit staff
  6. Management and administration.[7]

Outside School Hours Care Quality Assurance (OSHCQA)

The OSHCQA system, administered in participating outside school hours care services, outlined 30 principles of quality care which are incorporated into eight quality areas:

  1. Respect for children
  2. Staff interactions and relationships with children
  3. Partnerships with families and community links
  4. Programming and evaluation
  5. Play and development
  6. Health, nutrition and wellbeing
  7. Protective care and safety
  8. Managing to support quality.[7]

Quality Improvement and Accreditation System (QIAS)

The QIAS, administered in participating long day care centers, outlined 33 principles of quality care which are incorporated into seven quality areas:

  1. Staff relationships with children and peers
  2. Partnerships with families
  3. Programming and evaluation
  4. Children’s experiences and learning
  5. Protective care and safety
  6. Health, nutrition and wellbeing
  7. Managing to support quality.[7]

Summary of the landmarks in the Australian childcare quality assurance journey
1991Interim National Accreditation Council (INAC), chaired by Jane Singleton, established.
1993NCAC commences. Quentin Bryce is appointed as the inaugural Chair and CEO of NCAC.
1994Quality Improvement and Accreditation System (QIAS) commences. API Little Cribb St Child Care Centre, Brisbane, is the first centre to be Reviewed.
1995Launch of NCAC’s Choosing Child Care and AECA’s Accreditation and Beyond series of booklets for families.
1996The 1000th long day care service, Mowbray House Child Care Centre, accredited.
1996Quentin Bryce resigns from her position at NCAC. Ross McLean is appointed Chair of the NCAC Board.
1997Denise Taylor is appointed General Manager NCAC.
1998Launch of the NCAC website.
1999The first Multi-functional Aboriginal Children’s Service (MACS), Ampe Kenhe Apmere Congress Child Care Centre achieves three-year Accreditation.
2000John Tainton appointed as Chair of the NCAC Board. Accreditation Decisions become available on the Internet.
2001The Family Day Care Quality Assurance (FDCQA) system is launched in Adelaide, South Australia.
2002The revised QIAS is launched. The first issue of Putting Children First, NCAC’s newsletter, is published in March.
2003The Outside School Hours Care Quality Assurance (OSHCQA) system is launched at Parliament House in Canberra.
2004The revised second edition of the FDCQA Quality Practices Guide is launched.
2005June McLoughlin is appointed Chair of the NCAC Board. The QIAS Quality Practices Guide is released, replacing the QIAS Source Book. NCAC’s Endorsed Quality Assurance Trainers program is introduced.
2006Mal Brough, Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, announces that one integrated quality assurance system would be created for all service types. He also advises that Spot Checks and Unannounced Visits will be introduced to the current Child Care Quality Assurance system.
2007The Labor government led by Kevin Rudd, is elected to power. Maxine McKew becomes the Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Care. Work ceases on the development of an integrated Quality Assurance system.
2008The Accreditation Audit Committee (later named the Quality Advisory Committee) is established to provide the NCAC Board with independent advice about Accreditation Decisions.
2009Belonging, Being and Becoming – the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia is launched. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announces agreement to a New Quality Agenda which will replace the regulatory processes administered by state and territory governments and the Child Care Quality Assurance systems administered by NCAC. NCAC is to be replaced by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) from January 2012.
2010Making a difference for children – The Australian journey in assuring quality child care, is launched at Parliament House in Canberra by the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth.
2011NCAC implements business wind-up plans in preparation for the organisation’s closure in December 2011.

See also

References
  1. Council of Australian Governments (2009), National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education
  2. Wangmann, J. (1995) Towards integration and Quality Assurance in Children’s Services. Australian Institute of Family Studies – Early Childhood Study Paper no.6: Melbourne
  3. Mellor, E.J. and Coombe, K.M. (eds) (1994) Issues in Early Childhood Services: Australian Perspectives. WCB Publishers Int: Melbourne.
  4. http://www.gg.gov.au, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia (n.d) Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  5. Report on Government Services 2010, Productivity Commission (2010). Report on Government Services 2010.
  6. Quality Child Care, DEEWR, Quality Child Care (n.d)
  7. Quality Child Care Handbook 2010-2011 (n.d)
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