Child care regulation amendments
Amendments to the Child Care Regulation 2003 (the Regulation) take effect on 3 November 2008. These amendments are the result of reviews of the Regulation, and consultations with the child care sector across Queensland.
The amendments aim to improve safeguards for children in child care, reduce regulatory burden on some services, and implement the first phase of recommendations as a result of the Qualifications Review Report released in August 2007.
Below is an outline of the amendments, however, for further explanation and examples of how to apply the changes in practice, you should refer to the Amendments to the Child Care Regulation 2003 fact sheet or contact a Child Care Resource Officer on 1800 637 711 to discuss how the changes will affect your service.
Transport amendments
Information for parents and guardians (Section 94)
The information for parents and guardians and consent requirements for excursions must now include information about:
- the address and brief description of the destination; and
- the estimated travelling time for the activity; and
- details of the activities to be undertaken.
Licensees must obtain written consent from parents and guardians before their child goes on an excursion.
Other information – centre based services (Section 102)
The record-keeping requirements for excursions and escorting children have been expanded. A licensee must now keep information about:
- the address of the destination for the excursion or escort; and
- the approximate travelling time for the excursion; and
- the activities undertaken at the destination.
Transportation in a private vehicle (Section 96)
Licensees are now required to display emergency contact details on or in the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle, or at least one adult in the vehicle, must carry a mobile phone during transportation. The Regulation is NOT prescriptive in relation to the location of the sign displaying the contact details and is flexible in relation to the size of the sign, however a business card would not satisfy the requirement.
Operational amendments
Kindergartens and similar services (Section 28)
The requirement for kindergartens and similar sessional services to have an additional group leader for administrative and programming purposes has been removed for a service if it:
- does not operate for more than 6 hours a day; and
- caters for children aged between 3 years and school age; and
- is conducted by an adult who is present for the duration of the service and is a registered teacher, or is eligible for full or provisional registration and:
- holds a degree in early childhood studies; or
- primary education and holds or is studying an appropriate qualification mentioned in section 114 (a) to (c) of the Regulation.
Child care centres co-located with schools (Section 95A)
A licensee must now seek written consent from a parent or guardian for an excursion to move children between a co-located or adjoining child care centre and a school, where the excursion route passes a safe distance from an unrestricted hazard and inform them of the route and any hazards.
The staff: child ratios set out in Schedule 1 apply to the excursion.
Qualifications amendments
Period of time to enrol in a course of study (Section 118)
The period of time for an assistant or director in a centre-based service to enrol in an appropriate course of study has been reduced from 6 months to 3 months.
This amendment applies to:
- a person working as a qualified assistant in a licensed centre-based service, including a school age care service; and
- a person working as a qualified director in a licensed centre-based service.
This amendment does not apply to:
- a person with a qualification prescribed for a group leader who is engaged in a coordinating position for not more than 6 months at a school age care service (Refer to section 118 (3) of the Regulation ).
Persons engaged in a position prior to the commencement of the amendment
A person engaged as a qualified director or a qualified assistant in a centre-based service, or a qualified assistant in a school age care service that commenced operation after 1 September 2003 (ie. a service which was not under Transitional Provisions), who was engaged in the position prior to 3 November 2008 has 6 months to enrol in an appropriate course of study from the time they commenced in the position.
For example, a person engaged as a director in a licensed long day care centre who commenced in the position on 15 October 2008 has until 15 April 2009 to enrol in an appropriate course of study for the position, as prescribed under the Regulation.
End of Transitional Provisions applying to existing school age care services
Transitional Provisions of the Child Care Act 2002 for existing school age care services, that is services that commenced operation prior to 1 September 2003, ended on 1 September 2008. This means that, regardless of their commencement in a position, all persons engaged as a qualified coordinator, qualified group leader or qualified assistant have 6 months from 1 September 2008 to enrol in a course of study.
After 1 March 2009 this condition will no longer apply to a person engaged as a qualified assistant in an existing service, and they will have to enrol in a course of study within 3 months of commencing in a position.
Relevant areas of study (Section 120)
The range of qualifications acceptable for a person working as a qualified school age carer or a family day care coordinator has been broadened to include creative arts, fine arts, drama and music.
Policies for monitoring staff’s progress in course of study (Section 126A)
A licensee is now required to prepare, and keep up-to-date, a policy for monitoring the progress of staff of a child care service through a relevant course of study.
Related information resources
- Amendments to the Child Care Regulation 2003 - fact sheet
- Qualifications Review Report
- Qualifications Review Information Paper
Further information
For further information you can contact the Child Care Information Service on 1800 637 711* to speak to a Child Care Resource Officer.
The Child Care Information Service operates 24 hours, however, Child Care Resource Officers are available during office business hours only.
*Calls from mobile phones are charged at applicable rates.
Copies of the Child Care Regulation Amendment 2008 are available for purchase from the Queensland Government Bookshop or call (07) 3883 8700 or 1800 801 123 (outside of Brisbane).