Extension of workforce transitional provisions
Education ministers have agreed to extend workforce transitional arrangements for a further 12 months, until 31 December 2024.
This decision continues to provide flexibility for services and providers during a time of workforce shortages and enables governments to fully consider any recommendations that may arise out of the national qualifications review, commencing in 2023.
The following workforce transitional provisions were due to expire on 31 December 2023 and will now continue to apply until 31 December 2024:
- Regulation 239A - Regarding attendance of early childhood teachers at centre-based services in remote and very remote areas
- Regulation 240 - Qualification requirements for educators working in centre-based services in remote and very remote areas
- Regulation 242 – Qualification requirements for people to be ‘taken to be an early childhood teacher’
All other workforce transitional provisions will continue to expire as planned (see Workforce transitional provisions summary table on ACECQA website).
Extension of ‘Equivalent to an ECT' provision
Taking into account the workforce pressures on the sector across the country, particularly in rural and remote settings, the ACECQA Board has determined it will also extend its ‘Equivalent to an ECT’ provision until 31 December 2024 under r 137(3).
This extension ensures consistency with the decision of Education Ministers to provide flexibility for services in the management of workforce requirements, particularly in rural and remote areas, while maintaining a commitment to the importance of educational qualifications and experience in early childhood.
Until 31 December 2024, a person is recognised as equivalent to an early childhood teacher (ECT) if they hold all three of the following:
- a primary or secondary teaching qualification; and
- teacher registration/accreditation in Australia; and
- an ACECQA approved certificate III or higher education and care qualification.
An updated version of the Guide to the National Quality Framework (NQF) will be published on 1 July 2023, with further updates continuing throughout 2023 to reflect the agreed changes from the 2019 NQF Review.
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