Annual fees for approved providers 2023-24
Annual service fees for early childhood education and care providers are now payable on or before 1 July 2023.
Invoices are issued electronically to the email listed for the provider in the National Quality Agenda IT System (NQAITS) portal by 2 June. This fee applies to all approved services in South Australia.
The Education and Care Services National Regulations set the fees for children’s education and care services under the National Quality Framework which are indexed annually. The annual service fee covers regulatory activity, including:
- National quality assessment and rating process
- Monitoring and compliance activities
- Internal review of decisions
- Varying or amending service and provider approvals.
Please use the NQAITS portal to check and update the contact details recorded for your provider and to pay the annual service fee invoice.
Frequently asked questions about Annual Service Fees
How to pay the invoice?
The invoice should be paid using Visa or Mastercard through the NQAITS portal. When payment is made, the National Quality Agenda IT System portal automatically updates to reflect the payment received.
Please visit the ‘ACECQA National Quality Agenda IT System - Quick Reference Guide’ at section 2 on page 14 for information on invoices.
Who has access to the portal?
The approved provider and the person with management or control (PMC) has access to the portal. If your screen doesn't show the invoices search tab, contact your approved provider to check your level of access.
Where can I find the invoice number?
The invoice number is found on the invoice emailed to the approved provider and the PMC. Look for a number with six digits, a hyphen followed by six characters. For example: 123456-A3A3A3.
Do I still need to pay the annual fees invoice if the service is under voluntary suspension?
Yes, as an approved provider you are required to pay an annual fee for each service approval held, including those services that are suspended. This is set out in section 53 of the Education and Care Services National Law (SA) Act 2010.
Can I pay an invoice over the phone using credit card details?
No, credit card payments over the phone are not accepted. Please proceed with payment through the National Quality Agenda IT System (NQAITS) portal.
What can I do if I can’t find the email with the link to pay the annual fee invoice?
You still can access the unpaid invoices via invoice search for unpaid invoices in the NQAITS portal. Please refer to question 1 for further guidance.
What if I need further assistance?
Contact ACECQA for assistance accessing the invoice or processing the credit card payment.
What happens if the annual fee is not paid before the due date?
From 1 August 2023 a late payment fee of 15% will apply in addition to the annual fee (r233 National Regulations).
Annual fees apply to services under the National Quality Framework. This includes centre-based care such as long day care, family day care, preschool, kindergarten and outside hours school care (OSHC).