National Quality Framework
Early childhood teacher requirements
for funded kindergarten programs
Fact Sheet | October 2014
The information in this fact sheet outlines the qualification requirements for early childhood teachers in Victoria as they apply
to:

The Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (National Regulations); and

Education and care services in receipt of kindergarten funding.
Early childhood teacher requirements in the National Regulations1
Centre-based services operating under the National Quality Framework and providing education and care to children
preschool age or under must have access to an early childhood qualified teacher or have an early childhood teacher in
attendance at the service (regulations 130 to 134). A service that employs or engages a full-time or full-time equivalent early
childhood teacher is taken to comply with this requirement (regulations 132(2), 133(2), 134(2)). Further information about the
early childhood teacher requirements can be found in the Early childhood teachers fact sheet.
Early childhood teacher requirements for funded kindergarten programs
In addition to regulatory requirements, education and care services providing a funded kindergarten program must
also meet the relevant eligibility criteria and operational requirements for kindergarten funding.
The following table outlines which qualifications are counted as meeting the early childhood teacher (ECT) requirements for
the National Regulations, funded kindergartens and diploma level ratios:
Can be counted in the
Qualification
Meets the ECT
Meets the ECT
diploma level qualified
requirements
requirements
educator to child ratios
(National
(Kindergarten
when working directly
Regulations)
Funding)
with children (National
Regulations)
Holds an approved early childhood teaching qualification
or qualification assessed by ACECQA as equivalent to
an early childhood teaching qualification




×

(regulations 137(1)(a), 137(3) and 241(1)(b))
The person is actively working towards an approved
early childhood teaching qualification and 
has completed 50% of the course OR

holds an approved diploma level education and
care qualification2
1
These requirements do not apply to centre-based services where the main purpose is to provide education and care to children over preschool age (regulation 129(2)).
2 This is a transitional provision which ends on 1 January 2018 (regulation 242)
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Can be counted in the
Qualification
Meets the ECT
Meets the ECT
diploma level qualified
requirements
requirements
educator to child ratios
(National
(Kindergarten
when working directly
Regulations)
Funding)
with children (National
Regulations)
Is actively working towards an approved early childhood
teaching qualification and has completed 30 per cent of
the course.
Note: if the course is being undertaken but less than

×
×



×





×

30% of the course has been completed, the person can
be counted in the Certificate III qualified educator to
child ratios
The person holds a primary teaching qualification that
includes at least a focus on children aged 5-8 (e.g. a
qualification with a focus on children aged 3-8 or 5-12);
and has:

Australian teacher registration or accreditation,

AND

an approved diploma level or higher education and
care qualification
The person holds a primary teaching qualification that
includes at least a focus on children aged 5-8 (e.g. a
qualification with a focus on children aged 3-8 or 5-12);
and has

Australian teacher registration or accreditation,
AND

commenced an approved diploma level or higher
education and care qualification
Holds a primary teaching qualification and is replacing
the early childhood teacher at the service for no more
than 12 weeks due to short-term leave or illness.
Holds an approved diploma level education and care
qualification and is replacing the early childhood teacher
at the service for no more than 12 weeks due to shortterm leave or illness.
Meets any of the other circumstances that are outlined in
regulation 241.
If you believe that any of these circumstances apply to an
educator at your service please contact the Department for
further information.
Notes:

actively working towards means that a person can provide the approved provider with documentary evidence from
the training organisation that they are enrolled in a course, have commenced the course, are making
satisfactory progress towards completion AND meet the requirements to maintain enrolment

working directly with children means that at a given time the person is physically present with the children and is
directly engaged in providing education and care to the children (regulation 13).
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Kindergarten funding requirements
In order to receive kindergarten funding from the Victorian Government, services must meet eligibility criteria and operational
requirements in addition to regulatory requirements. Services that receive kindergarten funding must have a qualified early
childhood teacher to plan and deliver the funded program to meet the requirements as outlined above. The early childhood
teacher qualification requirements differ between the National Regulations and the kindergarten funding criteria. Before
appointing a person to the position of early childhood teacher funded services must ensure that the person meets the
relevant early childhood teacher qualification requirements under the National Regulations and kindergarten funding criteria.
A funded kindergarten program must be delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher for 15 hours a week (or 600 hours
per year). Services offering a funded kindergarten program should contact their regional office of the Department
immediately if for any period of time the funded program will not be delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher as
defined above. A waiver from the qualifications requirements of the National Regulations may also be required.
Early childhood teacher leave and absences
If the teacher is absent due to short term illness or leave, they can be replaced by a person who holds an approved diploma
level qualification or primary teaching qualification for no more than 12 weeks (regulation 135). This person may be counted
in the diploma qualified ratios when they are working directly with children. However, a person holding a diploma level
qualification does not meet the kindergarten funding criteria.
Approved early childhood teaching qualifications
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) publishes the qualifications that have been
approved for the purposes of the National Law on their website. This list includes the qualifications that are approved for
early childhood teachers, diploma level qualified educators and certificate level qualified educators.
If the educator’s qualification is not on the approved or former approved qualifications lists refer to the Staffing arrangements
fact sheet, for information about the assessment of qualifications by ACECQA (see under ‘approved qualifications’).
Waivers from the National Regulations
If a service is unable to meet the early childhood teaching requirements or the diploma level qualified educator to child ratios
the approved provider may apply for a waiver under section 94 (temporary waiver) of the Education and Care Services
National Law Act 2010. The service’s compliance with all other requirements of the National Quality Framework is
taken into consideration when assessing the application.
Further information can be found in the Waivers (general
information) fact sheets.
Further information about kindergarten funding
The Kindergarten Guide 2014 provides detailed information about types of kindergarten funding available, eligibility
criteria and operational requirements for funded service providers and is available on the Department of Education
and Early Childhood Development website. For more information, see: Kindergarten Guide 2014.
The Manager Performance and Planning Advisers at the Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development regional offices can provide further information and answer queries about kindergarten funding.
For a list of the Department’s regional offices, see: Regional offices.
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Further information about the National Regulations
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority is the national, independent statutory authority
governing the National Quality Framework.
Phone: 1300 422 327
Email: enquiries@acecqa.gov.au
Web: www.acecqa.gov.au
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is the Regulatory Authority in Victoria.
Phone: 1300 307 415
Email: licensed.childrens.services@edumail.vic.gov.au
Web: www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/providers/regulation
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