The Child Care Unit of the Department of Education, is responsible for the administration of the Child Care Act 2001 which commenced on 1 September 2003 and for the implementation of the National Quality Framework within Tasmania.

The Unit strives to support the development of high quality child care programs and services in Tasmania by:

• implementing an appropriate licensing process, including Standards and supporting information
• licensing and ongoing monitoring of child care services
• providing advice and assistance in the planning, design and establishment of new services and renovation of older services
• funding some services, particularly occasional care services in rural and isolated areas
• advising government, providers, parents and the community on child care matters

National Quality Framework

In December 2009, all Australian Governments agreed to a new National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care. This means that all Australian children, regardless of their location, will get the best possible start in life through high quality early childhood education and care and school age care services. The Framework will help providers improve their services in the areas that impact on a child’s development and empower families to make informed choices about which service is best for their child.

The National Quality Framework includes:

• a national legislative framework that consists of the Education and Care Services National Law and Education and Care Services National Regulations
• a National Quality Standard
• an assessment and rating system
• a regulatory authority in each state and territory which has primary responsibility for the approval, monitoring and quality assessment of services in their jurisdiction in accordance with the national legislative framework and in relation to the National Quality Standard.
• the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), the new national body responsible for providing oversight of the new system and ensuring consistency of approach.

A copy of the Education and Care Services National Law and Education and Care Services National Regulations is to be accessible at each education and care service premises at all times.  Copies can be found at the following locations: 

The Tasmanian Application Act, which enabled the adoption of the Education and Care Services National Law as a law of Tasmania

The Education and Care Services National Law

The Education and Care Services National Regulations

Making Connections: Schools and Child Care Services, Partners for Early Learning [PDF 511KB]
(Launched by the Minister on 27th October 2007).

National Early Childhood Education and Care Quality Reformshttp://www.deewr.gov.au/Earlychildhood/Policy_Agenda/Pages/DraftNQFRegDocs.aspx