Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2011
In ForceQLD
Jurisdiction
Queensland
Act Number
38 of 2011
Collection
act
Plain English Summary
7/10 complexity
This Act adopts the Education and Care Services National Law into Queensland law, designates the chief executive as the regulatory authority, aligns state and Commonwealth instruments (including the Working with Children Check) with the national scheme, and sets transitional rules for existing child‑care licences. It also establishes rules for collecting, sharing and protecting kindergarten enrolment (URL) data and for external review of regulatory decisions. It affects approved providers, staff, authorised officers, central governing bodies and data recipients by defining compliance, reporting and information‑sharing obligations.
This Act adopts, for Queensland, the Education and Care Services National Law as set out in the schedule to the Victorian Act and then layers a set of local application provisions and transitional rules on top of that adoption (see s 4; s 3 for definitions). Mechanically, the principal operations are:
to make the National Law a Queensland statute for all practical purposes, applying “as if it were part of this Act” (s 4);
to declare how specified local terms and related Queensland Acts map into the National Law (for example, declaring the Education and Care Services Act 2013 to be a children’s services law, s 8; declaring the chief executive of the department administering that Act to be the children’s services regulator, s 9; and mapping a range of education laws, s 10);
to exclude a number of Queensland statutes from applying to the National Law or instruments made under it, subject to limited exceptions (s 6);
to create information‑sharing and reporting obligations between the regulatory authority and the chief executive responsible for employment screening under the Working with Children Check Act 2000, including mandatory notices about disciplinary action and prohibition notices (pt 3, esp. ss 20-22);
to provide transitional declarations that convert certain licences and certificates under the repealed Child Care Acts into their National Law equivalents (s 18);
to permit collection, use and disclosure of defined unit‑record level (URL) data about kindergarten programs and their participants and staff, subject to authorised persons and authorised officers, specified uses, aggregation requirements for reporting, and a criminal/penalty prohibition on unauthorised recording or disclosure by central governing body officers (div 2, ss 32-38);
Current sections
Direct links to the current provisions in Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2011.
64
pt.1
Preliminary
Preliminary
sec.1
Short title
sec.1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2011 .
sec.2
Commencement
sec.2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day or days to be fixed by proclamation.
Different days may be appointed under subsection (1) for the commencement of different provisions of the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria.
The Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 15DA does not apply to this Act.
(sec.2-ssec.1) This Act commences on a day or days to be fixed by proclamation.
(sec.2-ssec.2) Different days may be appointed under subsection (1) for the commencement of different provisions of the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria.
(sec.2-ssec.3) The Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 15DA does not apply to this Act.
sec.3
Definitions
sec.3 Definitions
In this Act—
Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) means the provisions applying in this jurisdiction because of section 4 .
local application provisions of this Act means the provisions of this Act other than the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
scheme commencement day see the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 305 .
Terms used in the local application provisions of this Act and also in the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria have the same meanings in the local application provisions of this Act as they have in that Law.
(sec.3-ssec.1) In this Act— Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) means the provisions applying in this jurisdiction because of section 4 . local application provisions of this Act means the provisions of this Act other than the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) . scheme commencement day see the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 305 .
(sec.3-ssec.2) Terms used in the local application provisions of this Act and also in the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria have the same meanings in the local application provisions of this Act as they have in that Law.
pt.2
Adoption of National Law
Adoption of National Law
sec.4
Adoption of Education and Care Services National Law
sec.4 Adoption of Education and Care Services National Law
The Education and Care Services National Law, as in force from time to time, set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria—
applies as a law of this jurisdiction; and
as so applying may be referred to as the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) ; and
so applies as if it were part of this Act.
(a) applies as a law of this jurisdiction; and
(b) as so applying may be referred to as the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) ; and
(c) so applies as if it were part of this Act.
sec.5
Minister must table amendments of Education and Care Services National Law
sec.5 Minister must table amendments of Education and Care Services National Law
This section applies if the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria is amended.
The Minister must table a copy of the amendment in the Legislative Assembly.
Failure to comply with subsection (2) does not affect the application of the amendment under section 4 .
(sec.5-ssec.1) This section applies if the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria is amended.
(sec.5-ssec.2) The Minister must table a copy of the amendment in the Legislative Assembly.
(sec.5-ssec.3) Failure to comply with subsection (2) does not affect the application of the amendment under section 4 .
sec.6
Exclusion of legislation of this jurisdiction
sec.6 Exclusion of legislation of this jurisdiction
The following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) or to instruments made under the Law —
Acts Interpretation Act 1954 ;
Information Privacy Act 2009 ;
Right to Information Act 2009 ;
Statutory Instruments Act 1992 , other than to the extent provided for in section 303 of the Law .
To remove any doubt, it is declared that—
subsection (1) (a) does not limit the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 to the local application provisions of this Act; and
In section 7 , the definition public authority uses the term ‘public sector unit’. That term takes its meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 .
A reference in section 8 to the Education and Care Services Act 2013 includes a reference to a regulation in force under that Act (see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 7 ).
subsection (1) (d) does not limit the application of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 to a regulation made under the local application provisions of this Act.
The following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) or to the instruments made under the Law , except to the extent that the Law and those instruments apply to the regulatory authority and the employees, decisions, actions and records of the regulatory authority—
Auditor-General Act 2009 ;
Financial Accountability Act 2009 ;
Ombudsman Act 2001 ;
Public Records Act 2023 ;
Public Sector Act 2022 .
s 6 amd 2013 No. 39 s 110 (1) sch 3 pt 1 ; 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2 ; 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3 ; 2023 No. 33 s 107 sch 4
(sec.6-ssec.1) The following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) or to instruments made under the Law — Acts Interpretation Act 1954 ; Information Privacy Act 2009 ; Right to Information Act 2009 ; Statutory Instruments Act 1992 , other than to the extent provided for in section 303 of the Law .
(sec.6-ssec.2) To remove any doubt, it is declared that— subsection (1) (a) does not limit the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 to the local application provisions of this Act; and In section 7 , the definition public authority uses the term ‘public sector unit’. That term takes its meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 . A reference in section 8 to the Education and Care Services Act 2013 includes a reference to a regulation in force under that Act (see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 7 ). subsection (1) (d) does not limit the application of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 to a regulation made under the local application provisions of this Act.
(sec.6-ssec.3) The following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) or to the instruments made under the Law , except to the extent that the Law and those instruments apply to the regulatory authority and the employees, decisions, actions and records of the regulatory authority— Auditor-General Act 2009 ; Financial Accountability Act 2009 ; Ombudsman Act 2001 ; Public Records Act 2023 ; Public Sector Act 2022 .
(a) Acts Interpretation Act 1954 ;
(b) Information Privacy Act 2009 ;
(c) Right to Information Act 2009 ;
(d) Statutory Instruments Act 1992 , other than to the extent provided for in section 303 of the Law .
(a) subsection (1) (a) does not limit the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 to the local application provisions of this Act; and Examples— 1 In section 7 , the definition public authority uses the term ‘public sector unit’. That term takes its meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 . 2 A reference in section 8 to the Education and Care Services Act 2013 includes a reference to a regulation in force under that Act (see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 7 ).
1 In section 7 , the definition public authority uses the term ‘public sector unit’. That term takes its meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 .
2 A reference in section 8 to the Education and Care Services Act 2013 includes a reference to a regulation in force under that Act (see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 7 ).
(b) subsection (1) (d) does not limit the application of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 to a regulation made under the local application provisions of this Act.
1 In section 7 , the definition public authority uses the term ‘public sector unit’. That term takes its meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 .
2 A reference in section 8 to the Education and Care Services Act 2013 includes a reference to a regulation in force under that Act (see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 7 ).
(a) Auditor-General Act 2009 ;
(b) Financial Accountability Act 2009 ;
(c) Ombudsman Act 2001 ;
(d) Public Records Act 2023 ;
(e) Public Sector Act 2022 .
sec.7
Meaning of generic terms in Education and Care Services National Law for the purposes of this jurisdiction
sec.7 Meaning of generic terms in Education and Care Services National Law for the purposes of this jurisdiction
In the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) —
child protection law means the Child Protection Act 1999 .
de facto relationship see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 .
local authority means a local government.
magistrate means a magistrate appointed under the Magistrates Act 1991 .
public authority means a public sector unit.
superior court means the Supreme Court of Queensland.
this jurisdiction means Queensland.
s 7 amd 2013 No. 39 s 110 (1) sch 3 pt 1
sec.8
Children’s services law
sec.8 Children’s services law
The Education and Care Services Act 2013 is declared to be a children’s services law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition children’s services law .
s 8 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2
sec.9
Children’s services regulator
sec.9 Children’s services regulator
The chief executive of the department in which the Education and Care Services Act 2013 is administered is declared to be the children’s services regulator for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition children’s services regulator .
s 9 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2
sec.10
Education law
sec.10 Education law
Each of the following Acts is declared to be an education law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) —
Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017 ;
Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 ;
Education (Overseas Students) Act 1996 ;
Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 ;
the repealed Higher Education (General Provisions) Act 2008 .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition education law .
s 10 amd 2014 No. 25 s 223 s ch 1 pt 2 ; 2017 No. 24 s 212
(a) Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017 ;
(b) Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 ;
(c) Education (Overseas Students) Act 1996 ;
(d) Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 ;
(e) the repealed Higher Education (General Provisions) Act 2008 .
sec.11
Former education and care services law
sec.11 Former education and care services law
Each of the following is declared to be a former education and care services law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) —
the Child Care Act 2002 as in force before its repeal;
the Child Care Act 1991 as in force before its repeal.
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition former education and care services law .
s 11 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2
(a) the Child Care Act 2002 as in force before its repeal;
(b) the Child Care Act 1991 as in force before its repeal.
sec.12
Infringements law
sec.12 Infringements law
The State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 is declared to be an infringements law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition infringements law .
sec.13
Public sector law
sec.13 Public sector law
The Public Sector Act 2022 is declared to be a public sector law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition public sector law .
s 13 amd 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3
sec.14
Regulatory authority
sec.14 Regulatory authority
The chief executive is declared to be the regulatory authority for this jurisdiction.
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition regulatory authority .
sec.15
Relevant tribunal or court
sec.15 Relevant tribunal or court
The magistrates court is declared to be the relevant tribunal or court for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 181 .
QCAT is declared to be the relevant tribunal or court for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , part 8 .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition relevant tribunal or court .
(sec.15-ssec.1) The magistrates court is declared to be the relevant tribunal or court for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 181 .
(sec.15-ssec.2) QCAT is declared to be the relevant tribunal or court for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , part 8 . See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition relevant tribunal or court .
sec.16
Working with children law
sec.16 Working with children law
The Working with Children Check Act 2000 is declared to be a working with children law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition working with children law .
s 16 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1 ; 2024 No. 49 s 130 s ch 4 pt 1
sec.17
Penalty at end of provision
sec.17 Penalty at end of provision
In the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , a penalty stated at the end of a provision indicates that a contravention of the provision is punishable on conviction by a penalty not more than the stated penalty.
sec.18
Transitional matters
sec.18 Transitional matters
For the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) —
a licensed home based service under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a service provided only from 1 home, is declared to be a declared approved family day care service; and
a licensed centre based service under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a child care service to which that Act applies on the scheme commencement day, is declared to be a declared approved service; and
a licensee under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a licensee for a child care service to which that Act applies on the scheme commencement day, is declared to be a declared approved provider; and
a person who was both—
a staff member of a licensed service, or the nominee for a licensee, under the Child Care Act 2002 ; and
a qualified director, qualified coordinator or qualified group leader under the Child Care Act 2002 ;
is declared to be a declared certified supervisor and to be a declared nominated supervisor; and
a compliance notice under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 142 , given in relation to a licensed centre based service that is declared to be a declared approved service under paragraph (b) , is declared to be a declared compliance notice; and
each of the following services is declared to be a declared out of scope service—
a service providing a pre-preparatory learning program, at a prescribed State school or a prescribed non-State school, to a pre-preparatory age child;
a vacation care service; and
a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 is declared to be a former approval.
In this section—
pre-preparatory age child see the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 , schedule 4 .
pre-preparatory learning program see the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 , schedule 4 .
prescribed non-State school see the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 , schedule 4 .
prescribed qualification means a qualification prescribed under the Child Care Regulation 2003 for a director, coordinator or group leader.
prescribed State school see the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 , schedule 4 .
school holiday includes a day that the staff of a school, but not the students, are required to attend the school.
vacation care service means a service providing education and care to children over pre-school age only during a school holiday.
(sec.18-ssec.1) For the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) — a licensed home based service under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a service provided only from 1 home, is declared to be a declared approved family day care service; and a licensed centre based service under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a child care service to which that Act applies on the scheme commencement day, is declared to be a declared approved service; and a licensee under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a licensee for a child care service to which that Act applies on the scheme commencement day, is declared to be a declared approved provider; and a person who was both— a staff member of a licensed service, or the nominee for a licensee, under the Child Care Act 2002 ; and a qualified director, qualified coordinator or qualified group leader under the Child Care Act 2002 ; is declared to be a declared certified supervisor and to be a declared nominated supervisor; and a compliance notice under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 142 , given in relation to a licensed centre based service that is declared to be a declared approved service under paragraph (b) , is declared to be a declared compliance notice; and each of the following services is declared to be a declared out of scope service— a service providing a pre-preparatory learning program, at a prescribed State school or a prescribed non-State school, to a pre-preparatory age child; a vacation care service; and a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 is declared to be a former approval.
(sec.18-ssec.2) In this section— pre-preparatory age child see the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 , schedule 4 . pre-preparatory learning program see the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 , schedule 4 . prescribed non-State school see the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 , schedule 4 . prescribed qualification means a qualification prescribed under the Child Care Regulation 2003 for a director, coordinator or group leader. prescribed State school see the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 , schedule 4 . school holiday includes a day that the staff of a school, but not the students, are required to attend the school. vacation care service means a service providing education and care to children over pre-school age only during a school holiday.
(a) a licensed home based service under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a service provided only from 1 home, is declared to be a declared approved family day care service; and
(b) a licensed centre based service under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a child care service to which that Act applies on the scheme commencement day, is declared to be a declared approved service; and
(c) a licensee under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a licensee for a child care service to which that Act applies on the scheme commencement day, is declared to be a declared approved provider; and
(d) a person who was both— (i) a staff member of a licensed service, or the nominee for a licensee, under the Child Care Act 2002 ; and (ii) a qualified director, qualified coordinator or qualified group leader under the Child Care Act 2002 ; is declared to be a declared certified supervisor and to be a declared nominated supervisor; and
(i) a staff member of a licensed service, or the nominee for a licensee, under the Child Care Act 2002 ; and
(ii) a qualified director, qualified coordinator or qualified group leader under the Child Care Act 2002 ;
(e) a compliance notice under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 142 , given in relation to a licensed centre based service that is declared to be a declared approved service under paragraph (b) , is declared to be a declared compliance notice; and
(f) each of the following services is declared to be a declared out of scope service— (i) a service providing a pre-preparatory learning program, at a prescribed State school or a prescribed non-State school, to a pre-preparatory age child; (ii) a vacation care service; and
(i) a service providing a pre-preparatory learning program, at a prescribed State school or a prescribed non-State school, to a pre-preparatory age child;
(ii) a vacation care service; and
(g) a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 is declared to be a former approval.
(i) a staff member of a licensed service, or the nominee for a licensee, under the Child Care Act 2002 ; and
(ii) a qualified director, qualified coordinator or qualified group leader under the Child Care Act 2002 ;
(i) a service providing a pre-preparatory learning program, at a prescribed State school or a prescribed non-State school, to a pre-preparatory age child;
(ii) a vacation care service; and
pt.3
Matters relating to Working with Children Check Act 2000
Matters relating to Working with Children Check Act 2000
pt.3-div.1
Preliminary
Preliminary
sec.19
Definitions for pt 3
sec.19 Definitions for pt 3
In this part—
chief executive (employment screening) means the chief executive of the department in which the Working with Children Check Act 2000 is administered.
s 19 def chief executive (employment screening) amd 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2
exemption notice ...
s 19 def exemption notice om 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2
prescribed notice ...
s 19 def prescribed notice om 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2
Working with Children Act ...
s 19 def Working with Children Act om 2024 No. 49 s 131 sch 5
working with children authority see the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 18 .
s 19 def working with children authority ins 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2
amd 2024 No. 50 s 140 sch 1; 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2
working with children check application see the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , schedule 7 .
s 19 def working with children check application ins 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2
amd 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2
s 19 sub 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1
pt.3-div.2
Giving or obtaining particular information
Giving or obtaining particular information
sec.20
Giving information to chief executive (employment screening) about disciplinary action
sec.20 Giving information to chief executive (employment screening) about disciplinary action
This section applies if the regulatory authority—
does any of the following (the disciplinary action ) under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) (the Law )—
amends a provider approval under section 23 of the Law ;
suspends a provider approval under section 27 or 28 of the Law ;
cancels or suspends a provider approval under section 33 of the Law ;
amends a service approval under section 55 of the Law ;
suspends a service approval under section 72 or 73 of the Law ;
cancels or suspends a service approval under section 79 of the Law ;
amends a supervisor certificate under section 120 of the Law ;
cancels or suspends a supervisor certificate under section 125 of the Law ;
suspends a supervisor certificate under section 126 of the Law ; and
reasonably believes the disciplinary action may be relevant to the functions or powers of the chief executive (employment screening) under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 .
The regulatory authority must give written notice of the disciplinary action to the chief executive (employment screening).
A notice under subsection (2) must state the following for the person against whom the disciplinary action was taken—
the person’s name and address;
the person’s date and place of birth, if known;
that disciplinary action has been taken against the person, without stating anything further about the disciplinary action.
Subsection (5) applies if the chief executive (employment screening)—
requests further information about the disciplinary action; and
notifies the regulatory authority that the person—
holds a working with children authority; or
has made a working with children check application.
The regulatory authority must give the chief executive (employment screening) a written notice stating the following—
the form of the disciplinary action taken;
when the conduct happened that constituted a ground for the disciplinary action;
the nature of the conduct that constituted a ground for the disciplinary action;
any other information about the disciplinary action the regulatory authority considers may be relevant to employment screening under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , chapter 8 , including, for example, details about the nature of the disciplinary action.
However, if the notice given under subsection (2) did not contain the person’s date and place of birth, subsection (5) applies only if—
the request from the chief executive (employment screening) for the notice under subsection (5) includes the person’s date and place of birth; and
the regulatory authority confirms the person’s date and place of birth with the person.
A notice given under subsection (2) or (5) must not contain information that identifies, or is likely to identify, a particular child.
If the regulatory authority gives the chief executive (employment screening) information under subsection (5) about disciplinary action and the disciplinary action is set aside on review or appeal, the regulatory authority must notify the chief executive (employment screening) of the following—
the disciplinary action has been set aside;
the reasons given by the entity that set the disciplinary action aside for setting it aside.
s 20 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1 ; 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2 ; 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2
(sec.20-ssec.1) This section applies if the regulatory authority— does any of the following (the disciplinary action ) under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) (the Law )— amends a provider approval under section 23 of the Law ; suspends a provider approval under section 27 or 28 of the Law ; cancels or suspends a provider approval under section 33 of the Law ; amends a service approval under section 55 of the Law ; suspends a service approval under section 72 or 73 of the Law ; cancels or suspends a service approval under section 79 of the Law ; amends a supervisor certificate under section 120 of the Law ; cancels or suspends a supervisor certificate under section 125 of the Law ; suspends a supervisor certificate under section 126 of the Law ; and reasonably believes the disciplinary action may be relevant to the functions or powers of the chief executive (employment screening) under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 .
(sec.20-ssec.2) The regulatory authority must give written notice of the disciplinary action to the chief executive (employment screening).
(sec.20-ssec.3) A notice under subsection (2) must state the following for the person against whom the disciplinary action was taken— the person’s name and address; the person’s date and place of birth, if known; that disciplinary action has been taken against the person, without stating anything further about the disciplinary action.
(sec.20-ssec.4) Subsection (5) applies if the chief executive (employment screening)— requests further information about the disciplinary action; and notifies the regulatory authority that the person— holds a working with children authority; or has made a working with children check application.
(sec.20-ssec.5) The regulatory authority must give the chief executive (employment screening) a written notice stating the following— the form of the disciplinary action taken; when the conduct happened that constituted a ground for the disciplinary action; the nature of the conduct that constituted a ground for the disciplinary action; any other information about the disciplinary action the regulatory authority considers may be relevant to employment screening under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , chapter 8 , including, for example, details about the nature of the disciplinary action.
(sec.20-ssec.6) However, if the notice given under subsection (2) did not contain the person’s date and place of birth, subsection (5) applies only if— the request from the chief executive (employment screening) for the notice under subsection (5) includes the person’s date and place of birth; and the regulatory authority confirms the person’s date and place of birth with the person.
(sec.20-ssec.7) A notice given under subsection (2) or (5) must not contain information that identifies, or is likely to identify, a particular child.
(sec.20-ssec.8) If the regulatory authority gives the chief executive (employment screening) information under subsection (5) about disciplinary action and the disciplinary action is set aside on review or appeal, the regulatory authority must notify the chief executive (employment screening) of the following— the disciplinary action has been set aside; the reasons given by the entity that set the disciplinary action aside for setting it aside.
(a) does any of the following (the disciplinary action ) under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) (the Law )— (i) amends a provider approval under section 23 of the Law ; (ii) suspends a provider approval under section 27 or 28 of the Law ; (iii) cancels or suspends a provider approval under section 33 of the Law ; (iv) amends a service approval under section 55 of the Law ; (v) suspends a service approval under section 72 or 73 of the Law ; (vi) cancels or suspends a service approval under section 79 of the Law ; (vii) amends a supervisor certificate under section 120 of the Law ; (viii) cancels or suspends a supervisor certificate under section 125 of the Law ; (ix) suspends a supervisor certificate under section 126 of the Law ; and
(i) amends a provider approval under section 23 of the Law ;
(ii) suspends a provider approval under section 27 or 28 of the Law ;
(iii) cancels or suspends a provider approval under section 33 of the Law ;
(iv) amends a service approval under section 55 of the Law ;
(v) suspends a service approval under section 72 or 73 of the Law ;
(vi) cancels or suspends a service approval under section 79 of the Law ;
(vii) amends a supervisor certificate under section 120 of the Law ;
(viii) cancels or suspends a supervisor certificate under section 125 of the Law ;
(ix) suspends a supervisor certificate under section 126 of the Law ; and
(b) reasonably believes the disciplinary action may be relevant to the functions or powers of the chief executive (employment screening) under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 .
(i) amends a provider approval under section 23 of the Law ;
(ii) suspends a provider approval under section 27 or 28 of the Law ;
(iii) cancels or suspends a provider approval under section 33 of the Law ;
(iv) amends a service approval under section 55 of the Law ;
(v) suspends a service approval under section 72 or 73 of the Law ;
(vi) cancels or suspends a service approval under section 79 of the Law ;
(vii) amends a supervisor certificate under section 120 of the Law ;
(viii) cancels or suspends a supervisor certificate under section 125 of the Law ;
(ix) suspends a supervisor certificate under section 126 of the Law ; and
(a) the person’s name and address;
(b) the person’s date and place of birth, if known;
(c) that disciplinary action has been taken against the person, without stating anything further about the disciplinary action.
(a) requests further information about the disciplinary action; and
(b) notifies the regulatory authority that the person— (i) holds a working with children authority; or (ii) has made a working with children check application.
(i) holds a working with children authority; or
(ii) has made a working with children check application.
(i) holds a working with children authority; or
(ii) has made a working with children check application.
(a) the form of the disciplinary action taken;
(b) when the conduct happened that constituted a ground for the disciplinary action;
(c) the nature of the conduct that constituted a ground for the disciplinary action;
(d) any other information about the disciplinary action the regulatory authority considers may be relevant to employment screening under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , chapter 8 , including, for example, details about the nature of the disciplinary action.
(a) the request from the chief executive (employment screening) for the notice under subsection (5) includes the person’s date and place of birth; and
(b) the regulatory authority confirms the person’s date and place of birth with the person.
(a) the disciplinary action has been set aside;
(b) the reasons given by the entity that set the disciplinary action aside for setting it aside.
sec.21
Giving information to chief executive (employment screening) about prohibition notices
sec.21 Giving information to chief executive (employment screening) about prohibition notices
This section applies if the regulatory authority gives a person a prohibition notice under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , part 7 , division 3 .
The regulatory authority must give written notice of the giving of the prohibition notice to the chief executive (employment screening).
A notice under subsection (2) must state the following—
the person’s name and address;
the person’s date and place of birth, if known;
the person has been given a prohibition notice, without stating anything further about the giving of the prohibition notice.
Subsection (5) applies if the chief executive (employment screening)—
requests further information about the prohibition notice; and
notifies the regulatory authority that the person—
holds a working with children authority; or
has made a working with children check application.
The regulatory authority must give the chief executive (employment screening) a written notice stating the following—
when the conduct that resulted in the prohibition notice happened;
the nature of the conduct that resulted in the prohibition notice;
any other information about the prohibition notice the regulatory authority considers may be relevant to employment screening under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , chapter 8 , including, for example, details about the nature of the prohibition notice.
However, if the notice given under subsection (2) did not contain the person’s date and place of birth, subsection (5) applies only if—
the request from the chief executive (employment screening) for the notice under subsection (5) includes the person’s date and place of birth; and
the regulatory authority confirms the person’s date and place of birth with the person.
If a prohibition notice is given in relation to conduct relating to a particular child, a notice given under subsection (2) or (5) about the prohibition notice must not contain information that identifies, or is likely to identify, the child.
If the regulatory authority gives the chief executive (employment screening) information under subsection (5) about a prohibition notice and the prohibition notice is set aside on review or appeal, the regulatory authority must notify the chief executive (employment screening) of the following—
the prohibition notice has been set aside;
the reasons given by the entity that set the prohibition notice aside for setting it aside.
Also, under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 271 (5) , the regulatory authority may disclose, to the chief executive of the department responsible for the administration of the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , a prohibition notice as applying in any participating jurisdiction in respect of the person.
s 21 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1 ; 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2 ; 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2
(sec.21-ssec.1) This section applies if the regulatory authority gives a person a prohibition notice under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , part 7 , division 3 .
(sec.21-ssec.2) The regulatory authority must give written notice of the giving of the prohibition notice to the chief executive (employment screening).
(sec.21-ssec.3) A notice under subsection (2) must state the following— the person’s name and address; the person’s date and place of birth, if known; the person has been given a prohibition notice, without stating anything further about the giving of the prohibition notice.
(sec.21-ssec.4) Subsection (5) applies if the chief executive (employment screening)— requests further information about the prohibition notice; and notifies the regulatory authority that the person— holds a working with children authority; or has made a working with children check application.
(sec.21-ssec.5) The regulatory authority must give the chief executive (employment screening) a written notice stating the following— when the conduct that resulted in the prohibition notice happened; the nature of the conduct that resulted in the prohibition notice; any other information about the prohibition notice the regulatory authority considers may be relevant to employment screening under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , chapter 8 , including, for example, details about the nature of the prohibition notice.
(sec.21-ssec.6) However, if the notice given under subsection (2) did not contain the person’s date and place of birth, subsection (5) applies only if— the request from the chief executive (employment screening) for the notice under subsection (5) includes the person’s date and place of birth; and the regulatory authority confirms the person’s date and place of birth with the person.
(sec.21-ssec.7) If a prohibition notice is given in relation to conduct relating to a particular child, a notice given under subsection (2) or (5) about the prohibition notice must not contain information that identifies, or is likely to identify, the child.
(sec.21-ssec.8) If the regulatory authority gives the chief executive (employment screening) information under subsection (5) about a prohibition notice and the prohibition notice is set aside on review or appeal, the regulatory authority must notify the chief executive (employment screening) of the following— the prohibition notice has been set aside; the reasons given by the entity that set the prohibition notice aside for setting it aside. Also, under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 271 (5) , the regulatory authority may disclose, to the chief executive of the department responsible for the administration of the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , a prohibition notice as applying in any participating jurisdiction in respect of the person.
(a) the person’s name and address;
(b) the person’s date and place of birth, if known;
(c) the person has been given a prohibition notice, without stating anything further about the giving of the prohibition notice.
(a) requests further information about the prohibition notice; and
(b) notifies the regulatory authority that the person— (i) holds a working with children authority; or (ii) has made a working with children check application.
(i) holds a working with children authority; or
(ii) has made a working with children check application.
(i) holds a working with children authority; or
(ii) has made a working with children check application.
(a) when the conduct that resulted in the prohibition notice happened;
(b) the nature of the conduct that resulted in the prohibition notice;
(c) any other information about the prohibition notice the regulatory authority considers may be relevant to employment screening under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , chapter 8 , including, for example, details about the nature of the prohibition notice.
(a) the request from the chief executive (employment screening) for the notice under subsection (5) includes the person’s date and place of birth; and
(b) the regulatory authority confirms the person’s date and place of birth with the person.
(a) the prohibition notice has been set aside;
(b) the reasons given by the entity that set the prohibition notice aside for setting it aside.
sec.22
Obtaining information from chief executive (employment screening) about employment screening
sec.22 Obtaining information from chief executive (employment screening) about employment screening
This section applies to the following individuals—
an approved provider;
a person with management or control of an education and care service operated by an approved provider;
a certified supervisor;
an educator;
an adult occupant of a family day care residence.
On receiving a written request from the regulatory authority, the chief executive (employment screening) must give the regulatory authority the following information about a stated individual mentioned in subsection (1) —
whether the individual has made a working with children check application and, if so—
the date of the application; and
if the application has been withdrawn—the date of the withdrawal;
whether a working with children authority or negative notice is in force for the individual and, if so, the date the authority or notice was issued;
whether a working with children authority or negative notice held by the individual has been cancelled and, if so, the date of the cancellation.
The chief executive (employment screening) may give the regulatory authority the information mentioned in subsection (2) (c) about an individual whether or not the regulatory authority has requested the information.
In this section—
negative notice see the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 18C .
occupant , of a family day care residence, means a person who—
resides in the family day care residence; or
is usually present in the family day care residence when the education and care service is delivered there.
s 22 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1 ; 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2 ; 2024 No. 50 s 140 sch 1 ; 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2
(sec.22-ssec.1) This section applies to the following individuals— an approved provider; a person with management or control of an education and care service operated by an approved provider; a certified supervisor; an educator; an adult occupant of a family day care residence.
(sec.22-ssec.2) On receiving a written request from the regulatory authority, the chief executive (employment screening) must give the regulatory authority the following information about a stated individual mentioned in subsection (1) — whether the individual has made a working with children check application and, if so— the date of the application; and if the application has been withdrawn—the date of the withdrawal; whether a working with children authority or negative notice is in force for the individual and, if so, the date the authority or notice was issued; whether a working with children authority or negative notice held by the individual has been cancelled and, if so, the date of the cancellation.
(sec.22-ssec.3) The chief executive (employment screening) may give the regulatory authority the information mentioned in subsection (2) (c) about an individual whether or not the regulatory authority has requested the information.
(sec.22-ssec.4) In this section— negative notice see the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 18C . occupant , of a family day care residence, means a person who— resides in the family day care residence; or is usually present in the family day care residence when the education and care service is delivered there.
(a) an approved provider;
(b) a person with management or control of an education and care service operated by an approved provider;
(c) a certified supervisor;
(d) an educator;
(e) an adult occupant of a family day care residence.
(a) whether the individual has made a working with children check application and, if so— (i) the date of the application; and (ii) if the application has been withdrawn—the date of the withdrawal;
(i) the date of the application; and
(ii) if the application has been withdrawn—the date of the withdrawal;
(b) whether a working with children authority or negative notice is in force for the individual and, if so, the date the authority or notice was issued;
(c) whether a working with children authority or negative notice held by the individual has been cancelled and, if so, the date of the cancellation.
(i) the date of the application; and
(ii) if the application has been withdrawn—the date of the withdrawal;
(a) resides in the family day care residence; or
(b) is usually present in the family day care residence when the education and care service is delivered there.
pt.3-div.3
Application of Working with Children Check Act 2000
Application of Working with Children Check Act 2000
sec.23
Pending application for working with children card or check—corporation
sec.23 Pending application for working with children card or check—corporation
This section applies if—
a corporation is the approved provider of an education and care service; and
an individual becomes an officer of the corporation within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cwlth) who is responsible for managing the delivery of the education and care service; and
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition person with management or control , paragraph (a) .
the individual does not hold a current working with children card or working with children check; and
an application for a working with children card or working with children check is made for the individual.
The individual must not be taken to be not a fit and proper person under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) only because the individual does not hold a current working with children card or working with children check.
Subsection (2) stops applying in relation to the individual when the application mentioned in subsection (1) (d) is decided, or is withdrawn or lapses.
(sec.23-ssec.1) This section applies if— a corporation is the approved provider of an education and care service; and an individual becomes an officer of the corporation within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cwlth) who is responsible for managing the delivery of the education and care service; and See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition person with management or control , paragraph (a) . the individual does not hold a current working with children card or working with children check; and an application for a working with children card or working with children check is made for the individual.
(sec.23-ssec.2) The individual must not be taken to be not a fit and proper person under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) only because the individual does not hold a current working with children card or working with children check.
(sec.23-ssec.3) Subsection (2) stops applying in relation to the individual when the application mentioned in subsection (1) (d) is decided, or is withdrawn or lapses.
(a) a corporation is the approved provider of an education and care service; and
(b) an individual becomes an officer of the corporation within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cwlth) who is responsible for managing the delivery of the education and care service; and Note— See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition person with management or control , paragraph (a) .
(c) the individual does not hold a current working with children card or working with children check; and
(d) an application for a working with children card or working with children check is made for the individual.
sec.24
Pending application for working with children card or check—eligible association
sec.24 Pending application for working with children card or check—eligible association
This section applies if—
an eligible association is the approved provider of an education and care service; and
an individual becomes a member of the executive committee of the association who has the responsibility, alone or with others, for managing the delivery of the education and care service; and
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition person with management or control , paragraph (b) .
the individual does not hold a current working with children card or working with children check; and
an application for a working with children card or working with children check is made for the individual.
The individual must not be taken to be not a fit and proper person under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) only because the individual does not hold a current working with children card or working with children check.
Subsection (2) stops applying in relation to the individual when the application mentioned in subsection (1) (d) is decided, or is withdrawn or lapses.
(sec.24-ssec.1) This section applies if— an eligible association is the approved provider of an education and care service; and an individual becomes a member of the executive committee of the association who has the responsibility, alone or with others, for managing the delivery of the education and care service; and See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition person with management or control , paragraph (b) . the individual does not hold a current working with children card or working with children check; and an application for a working with children card or working with children check is made for the individual.
(sec.24-ssec.2) The individual must not be taken to be not a fit and proper person under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) only because the individual does not hold a current working with children card or working with children check.
(sec.24-ssec.3) Subsection (2) stops applying in relation to the individual when the application mentioned in subsection (1) (d) is decided, or is withdrawn or lapses.
(a) an eligible association is the approved provider of an education and care service; and
(b) an individual becomes a member of the executive committee of the association who has the responsibility, alone or with others, for managing the delivery of the education and care service; and Note— See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition person with management or control , paragraph (b) .
(c) the individual does not hold a current working with children card or working with children check; and
(d) an application for a working with children card or working with children check is made for the individual.
sec.25
Section sec.25
s 25 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2 ; 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1
om 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2
sec.26
Death of sole holder of service approval
sec.26 Death of sole holder of service approval
This section applies if the approved provider of an education and care service dies.
The executor of the approved provider’s estate does not commit an offence against the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 176B , by operating the approved education and care service under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 39 , without a working with children clearance—
during the relevant period; and
if the executor makes a working with children check application within the relevant period and does not withdraw the application—until the application is decided.
The executor of the approved provider’s estate does not commit an offence against the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 176G , by operating the approved education and care service under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 39 , without a working with children exemption, during the relevant period.
If the executor of the approved provider’s estate is a corporation, a reference in this section to the executor not committing an offence against a provision of the Working with Children Check Act 2000 also applies to an executive officer of the corporation.
In this section—
relevant period see the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 39 (7) .
working with children clearance see the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 18A .
working with children exemption see the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 18B .
s 26 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1 ; 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2 ; 2024 No. 50 s 140 sch 1 ; 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2
(sec.26-ssec.1) This section applies if the approved provider of an education and care service dies.
(sec.26-ssec.2) The executor of the approved provider’s estate does not commit an offence against the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 176B , by operating the approved education and care service under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 39 , without a working with children clearance— during the relevant period; and if the executor makes a working with children check application within the relevant period and does not withdraw the application—until the application is decided.
(sec.26-ssec.3) The executor of the approved provider’s estate does not commit an offence against the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 176G , by operating the approved education and care service under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 39 , without a working with children exemption, during the relevant period.
(sec.26-ssec.4) If the executor of the approved provider’s estate is a corporation, a reference in this section to the executor not committing an offence against a provision of the Working with Children Check Act 2000 also applies to an executive officer of the corporation.
(sec.26-ssec.5) In this section— relevant period see the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 39 (7) . working with children clearance see the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 18A . working with children exemption see the Working with Children Check Act 2000 , section 18B .
(a) during the relevant period; and
(b) if the executor makes a working with children check application within the relevant period and does not withdraw the application—until the application is decided.
pt.4
Other matters
Other matters
pt.4-div.2
Use and disclosure of URL data relating to approved kindergarten programs
Use and disclosure of URL data relating to approved kindergarten programs
sec.32
Definitions for div 2
sec.32 Definitions for div 2
In this division—
approved kindergarten program means a program for which an education and care service providing the program receives kindergarten program funding from the department or a central governing body.
authorised officer , of a central governing body, means an employee or officer of the central governing body for whom an authority is in force under section 33 .
central governing body means an entity, prescribed under a regulation, that receives funding from the department for an approved kindergarten program provided by 1 or more relevant services to which the entity provides all or part of the funding.
disability includes a condition attributable to—
a physical, intellectual, hearing, vision or speech–language impairment, or a developmental delay; or
an autistic spectrum disorder; or
a combination of impairments mentioned in paragraph (a) , a developmental delay or an autistic spectrum disorder.
health practitioner means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise a health profession.
relevant service means an approved education and care service, other than an approved family day care service, that provides an approved kindergarten program.
URL data means—
the following information about a child who is enrolled at a relevant service in an approved kindergarten program—
the child’s name, date of birth and gender;
the address of the child’s primary residence;
whether the child identifies, or has a parent who identifies, as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
if the primary language of the child, or, if the child has not learned to speak, the child’s family, is not English—the primary language of the child or the child’s family;
whether the child, or a parent of the child, holds a health care card under the Social Security Act 1991 (Cwlth) ;
whether the child—
has been diagnosed by a health practitioner as having, or is suspected by a health practitioner of having, a disability or long-term medical condition; and
needs additional assistance because of the disability or medical condition;
the number of hours for which the child attended an approved kindergarten program during a particular period;
other information about the child that is prescribed under a regulation; or
the following information about a staff member of a relevant service who delivers an approved kindergarten program—
the staff member’s name;
for a qualification in early childhood studies or child care studies held by the staff member—
the name of the qualification; and
the date on which the qualification was issued; and
the institution that issued the qualification;
whether the staff member holds full registration or provisional registration under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 and, if so, the staff member’s identification number under that Act ;
whether the staff member identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
if the primary language of the staff member is not English—the primary language of the staff member;
other information about the staff member that is prescribed under a regulation.
(a) a physical, intellectual, hearing, vision or speech–language impairment, or a developmental delay; or
(b) an autistic spectrum disorder; or
(c) a combination of impairments mentioned in paragraph (a) , a developmental delay or an autistic spectrum disorder.
(a) the following information about a child who is enrolled at a relevant service in an approved kindergarten program— (i) the child’s name, date of birth and gender; (ii) the address of the child’s primary residence; (iii) whether the child identifies, or has a parent who identifies, as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; (iv) if the primary language of the child, or, if the child has not learned to speak, the child’s family, is not English—the primary language of the child or the child’s family; (v) whether the child, or a parent of the child, holds a health care card under the Social Security Act 1991 (Cwlth) ; (vi) whether the child— (A) has been diagnosed by a health practitioner as having, or is suspected by a health practitioner of having, a disability or long-term medical condition; and (B) needs additional assistance because of the disability or medical condition; (vii) the number of hours for which the child attended an approved kindergarten program during a particular period; (viii) other information about the child that is prescribed under a regulation; or
(i) the child’s name, date of birth and gender;
(ii) the address of the child’s primary residence;
(iii) whether the child identifies, or has a parent who identifies, as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
(iv) if the primary language of the child, or, if the child has not learned to speak, the child’s family, is not English—the primary language of the child or the child’s family;
(v) whether the child, or a parent of the child, holds a health care card under the Social Security Act 1991 (Cwlth) ;
(vi) whether the child— (A) has been diagnosed by a health practitioner as having, or is suspected by a health practitioner of having, a disability or long-term medical condition; and (B) needs additional assistance because of the disability or medical condition;
(A) has been diagnosed by a health practitioner as having, or is suspected by a health practitioner of having, a disability or long-term medical condition; and
(B) needs additional assistance because of the disability or medical condition;
(vii) the number of hours for which the child attended an approved kindergarten program during a particular period;
(viii) other information about the child that is prescribed under a regulation; or
(b) the following information about a staff member of a relevant service who delivers an approved kindergarten program— (i) the staff member’s name; (ii) for a qualification in early childhood studies or child care studies held by the staff member— (A) the name of the qualification; and (B) the date on which the qualification was issued; and (C) the institution that issued the qualification; (iii) whether the staff member holds full registration or provisional registration under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 and, if so, the staff member’s identification number under that Act ; (iv) whether the staff member identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; (v) if the primary language of the staff member is not English—the primary language of the staff member; (vi) other information about the staff member that is prescribed under a regulation.
(i) the staff member’s name;
(ii) for a qualification in early childhood studies or child care studies held by the staff member— (A) the name of the qualification; and (B) the date on which the qualification was issued; and (C) the institution that issued the qualification;
(A) the name of the qualification; and
(B) the date on which the qualification was issued; and
(C) the institution that issued the qualification;
(iii) whether the staff member holds full registration or provisional registration under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 and, if so, the staff member’s identification number under that Act ;
(iv) whether the staff member identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
(v) if the primary language of the staff member is not English—the primary language of the staff member;
(vi) other information about the staff member that is prescribed under a regulation.
(i) the child’s name, date of birth and gender;
(ii) the address of the child’s primary residence;
(iii) whether the child identifies, or has a parent who identifies, as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
(iv) if the primary language of the child, or, if the child has not learned to speak, the child’s family, is not English—the primary language of the child or the child’s family;
(v) whether the child, or a parent of the child, holds a health care card under the Social Security Act 1991 (Cwlth) ;
(vi) whether the child— (A) has been diagnosed by a health practitioner as having, or is suspected by a health practitioner of having, a disability or long-term medical condition; and (B) needs additional assistance because of the disability or medical condition;
(A) has been diagnosed by a health practitioner as having, or is suspected by a health practitioner of having, a disability or long-term medical condition; and
(B) needs additional assistance because of the disability or medical condition;
(vii) the number of hours for which the child attended an approved kindergarten program during a particular period;
(viii) other information about the child that is prescribed under a regulation; or
(A) has been diagnosed by a health practitioner as having, or is suspected by a health practitioner of having, a disability or long-term medical condition; and
(B) needs additional assistance because of the disability or medical condition;
(i) the staff member’s name;
(ii) for a qualification in early childhood studies or child care studies held by the staff member— (A) the name of the qualification; and (B) the date on which the qualification was issued; and (C) the institution that issued the qualification;
(A) the name of the qualification; and
(B) the date on which the qualification was issued; and
(C) the institution that issued the qualification;
(iii) whether the staff member holds full registration or provisional registration under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 and, if so, the staff member’s identification number under that Act ;
(iv) whether the staff member identifies as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent;
(v) if the primary language of the staff member is not English—the primary language of the staff member;
(vi) other information about the staff member that is prescribed under a regulation.
(A) the name of the qualification; and
(B) the date on which the qualification was issued; and
(C) the institution that issued the qualification;
sec.33
Authorised officers
sec.33 Authorised officers
The chief executive may give written authority to a person who is an employee or officer of a central governing body to receive, use and disclose URL data for this division if the chief executive is satisfied the person is, because of the person’s expertise or experience, an appropriate person to be given the authority.
sec.34
Disclosure of URL data to chief executive and central governing bodies by relevant services
sec.34 Disclosure of URL data to chief executive and central governing bodies by relevant services
An authorised person for a relevant service may disclose URL data to the chief executive.
An authorised person for a CGB service may disclose URL data to an authorised officer of the central governing body.
An authorised officer of a central governing body may disclose URL data received under this section to the chief executive.
In this section—
authorised person , for a relevant service, means the following—
the approved provider of the relevant service;
a staff member of the relevant service;
an employee of the approved provider of the relevant service who administers URL data in the course of performing the employee’s duties.
CGB service means a relevant service that—
receives funding from a central governing body for an approved kindergarten program; and
has been directed in writing by the central governing body to disclose URL data to it for the purpose of this section.
(sec.34-ssec.1) An authorised person for a relevant service may disclose URL data to the chief executive.
(sec.34-ssec.2) An authorised person for a CGB service may disclose URL data to an authorised officer of the central governing body.
(sec.34-ssec.3) An authorised officer of a central governing body may disclose URL data received under this section to the chief executive.
(sec.34-ssec.4) In this section— authorised person , for a relevant service, means the following— the approved provider of the relevant service; a staff member of the relevant service; an employee of the approved provider of the relevant service who administers URL data in the course of performing the employee’s duties. CGB service means a relevant service that— receives funding from a central governing body for an approved kindergarten program; and has been directed in writing by the central governing body to disclose URL data to it for the purpose of this section.
(a) the approved provider of the relevant service;
(b) a staff member of the relevant service;
(c) an employee of the approved provider of the relevant service who administers URL data in the course of performing the employee’s duties.
(a) receives funding from a central governing body for an approved kindergarten program; and
(b) has been directed in writing by the central governing body to disclose URL data to it for the purpose of this section.
sec.35
Use and disclosure of URL data by chief executive
sec.35 Use and disclosure of URL data by chief executive
The chief executive may use URL data received under this division for the following purposes—
quality assuring of funding provided to relevant services and central governing bodies for approved kindergarten programs;
planning for, monitoring of outcomes of, and reporting on, early childhood initiatives;
preparing the data for disclosure under section 36 .
For subsection (1) (a) , the chief executive may disclose URL data, including URL data that has been aggregated, to an authorised officer of a central governing body.
For subsection (1) (b) , URL data may be reported only if it has been aggregated and does not identify, directly or indirectly, any person to whom it relates.
(sec.35-ssec.1) The chief executive may use URL data received under this division for the following purposes— quality assuring of funding provided to relevant services and central governing bodies for approved kindergarten programs; planning for, monitoring of outcomes of, and reporting on, early childhood initiatives; preparing the data for disclosure under section 36 .
(sec.35-ssec.2) For subsection (1) (a) , the chief executive may disclose URL data, including URL data that has been aggregated, to an authorised officer of a central governing body.
(sec.35-ssec.3) For subsection (1) (b) , URL data may be reported only if it has been aggregated and does not identify, directly or indirectly, any person to whom it relates.
(a) quality assuring of funding provided to relevant services and central governing bodies for approved kindergarten programs;
(b) planning for, monitoring of outcomes of, and reporting on, early childhood initiatives;
(c) preparing the data for disclosure under section 36 .
sec.36
Disclosure of URL data to Australian Bureau of Statistics and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
sec.36 Disclosure of URL data to Australian Bureau of Statistics and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
The chief executive may disclose URL data to a prescribed entity for the purpose of meeting Queensland’s obligations under the early childhood data agreement.
A prescribed entity that receives URL data under this section must ensure the data is collected, stored and used in a way that ensures the privacy of the persons to whom it relates is protected.
In this section—
early childhood data agreement means the agreement between the Commonwealth and the States called the ‘National information agreement on early childhood education and care’, signed on behalf of the Queensland Government by the chief executive on 19 February 2010.
prescribed entity means—
the Australian Bureau of Statistics; or
the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare established under the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Act 1987 (Cwlth) .
(sec.36-ssec.1) The chief executive may disclose URL data to a prescribed entity for the purpose of meeting Queensland’s obligations under the early childhood data agreement.
(sec.36-ssec.2) A prescribed entity that receives URL data under this section must ensure the data is collected, stored and used in a way that ensures the privacy of the persons to whom it relates is protected.
(sec.36-ssec.3) In this section— early childhood data agreement means the agreement between the Commonwealth and the States called the ‘National information agreement on early childhood education and care’, signed on behalf of the Queensland Government by the chief executive on 19 February 2010. prescribed entity means— the Australian Bureau of Statistics; or the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare established under the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Act 1987 (Cwlth) .
(a) the Australian Bureau of Statistics; or
(b) the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare established under the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Act 1987 (Cwlth) .
sec.37
Recording, use and disclosure of URL data by authorised officer of central governing body
sec.37 Recording, use and disclosure of URL data by authorised officer of central governing body
An authorised officer of a central governing body may use URL data received under this division for the following purposes—
quality assuring and distributing funding received from the department for approved kindergarten programs;
planning, developing and implementing services for children and parents;
planning, developing and implementing professional development programs for staff members of relevant services;
implementing curriculum development initiatives;
reporting on the central governing body’s performance.
For subsection (1) (e) , URL data may be reported only if it has been aggregated and does not identify, directly or indirectly, any person to whom it relates.
A person who is or has been an authorised officer of a central governing body and who receives or received URL data under this division must not record or use the data, or disclose it to anyone, other than under this section or section 34 (3) .
Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.
s 37 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2
(sec.37-ssec.1) An authorised officer of a central governing body may use URL data received under this division for the following purposes— quality assuring and distributing funding received from the department for approved kindergarten programs; planning, developing and implementing services for children and parents; planning, developing and implementing professional development programs for staff members of relevant services; implementing curriculum development initiatives; reporting on the central governing body’s performance.
(sec.37-ssec.2) For subsection (1) (e) , URL data may be reported only if it has been aggregated and does not identify, directly or indirectly, any person to whom it relates.
(sec.37-ssec.3) A person who is or has been an authorised officer of a central governing body and who receives or received URL data under this division must not record or use the data, or disclose it to anyone, other than under this section or section 34 (3) . Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.
(a) quality assuring and distributing funding received from the department for approved kindergarten programs;
(b) planning, developing and implementing services for children and parents;
(c) planning, developing and implementing professional development programs for staff members of relevant services;
(d) implementing curriculum development initiatives;
(e) reporting on the central governing body’s performance.
sec.38
Transitional—authorised officers
sec.38 Transitional—authorised officers
This section applies to a person who, immediately before the scheme commencement day, was an authorised officer of a central governing body under the Child Care Act 2002 , part 9 , division 3 , subdivision 2 .
From the commencement, the person’s authority to receive, use and disclose URL data for the purposes of that subdivision continues in force as an authority given under section 33 to receive, use and disclose URL data for this division.
(sec.38-ssec.1) This section applies to a person who, immediately before the scheme commencement day, was an authorised officer of a central governing body under the Child Care Act 2002 , part 9 , division 3 , subdivision 2 .
(sec.38-ssec.2) From the commencement, the person’s authority to receive, use and disclose URL data for the purposes of that subdivision continues in force as an authority given under section 33 to receive, use and disclose URL data for this division.
pt.4-div.3
Application of Commonwealth Acts
Application of Commonwealth Acts
sec.39
Application of Commonwealth Privacy Act
sec.39 Application of Commonwealth Privacy Act
The Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth) applies under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 263 as if a reference in the applied provisions to the Administrative Review Tribunal were a reference to QCAT.
This Act is taken to be an enabling Act under the QCAT Act that confers jurisdiction on QCAT by applying the Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth) as mentioned in subsection (1) .
s 39 amd 2024 No. 47 s 78 sch 2
(sec.39-ssec.1) The Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth) applies under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 263 as if a reference in the applied provisions to the Administrative Review Tribunal were a reference to QCAT.
(sec.39-ssec.2) This Act is taken to be an enabling Act under the QCAT Act that confers jurisdiction on QCAT by applying the Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth) as mentioned in subsection (1) .
sec.40
Application of Commonwealth FOI Act
sec.40 Application of Commonwealth FOI Act
The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cwlth) applies under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 264 as if a reference in the applied provisions to the Administrative Review Tribunal were a reference to QCAT.
This Act is taken to be an enabling Act under the QCAT Act that confers jurisdiction on QCAT by applying the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cwlth) as mentioned in subsection (1) .
s 40 amd 2024 No. 47 s 78 sch 2
(sec.40-ssec.1) The Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cwlth) applies under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 264 as if a reference in the applied provisions to the Administrative Review Tribunal were a reference to QCAT.
(sec.40-ssec.2) This Act is taken to be an enabling Act under the QCAT Act that confers jurisdiction on QCAT by applying the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cwlth) as mentioned in subsection (1) .
sec.41
Application of Commonwealth Ombudsman Act
sec.41 Application of Commonwealth Ombudsman Act
The Ombudsman Act 1976 (Cwlth) applies under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 282 as if a reference in the applied provisions to the Administrative Review Tribunal were a reference to QCAT.
This Act is taken to be an enabling Act under the QCAT Act that confers jurisdiction on QCAT by applying the Ombudsman Act 1976 (Cwlth) as mentioned in subsection (1) .
To remove any doubt, it is declared that QCAT has the jurisdiction mentioned in subsection (2) even to the extent the jurisdiction is not original, review or appeal jurisdiction.
s 41 amd 2024 No. 47 s 78 sch 2
(sec.41-ssec.1) The Ombudsman Act 1976 (Cwlth) applies under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 282 as if a reference in the applied provisions to the Administrative Review Tribunal were a reference to QCAT.
(sec.41-ssec.2) This Act is taken to be an enabling Act under the QCAT Act that confers jurisdiction on QCAT by applying the Ombudsman Act 1976 (Cwlth) as mentioned in subsection (1) .
(sec.41-ssec.3) To remove any doubt, it is declared that QCAT has the jurisdiction mentioned in subsection (2) even to the extent the jurisdiction is not original, review or appeal jurisdiction.
pt.4-div.4
External review of decisions
External review of decisions
sec.42
Meaning of reviewable decision
sec.42 Meaning of reviewable decision
In this division—
reviewable decision means a decision that, under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 192 , is a reviewable decision for external review.
sec.43
Regulatory authority must give notice after making reviewable decision
sec.43 Regulatory authority must give notice after making reviewable decision
Immediately after making a reviewable decision, the regulatory authority must give to the person who is the subject of the decision a notice for the decision complying with the QCAT Act , section 157 (2) .
The regulatory authority may give a notice for the purpose of complying with subsection (1) and for another purpose.
The regulatory authority may give a person a prohibition notice stating—
the matters required to be stated in the prohibition notice under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 185 ; and
the matters required to be stated under subsection (1) about the decision to give the prohibition notice.
(sec.43-ssec.1) Immediately after making a reviewable decision, the regulatory authority must give to the person who is the subject of the decision a notice for the decision complying with the QCAT Act , section 157 (2) .
(sec.43-ssec.2) The regulatory authority may give a notice for the purpose of complying with subsection (1) and for another purpose. The regulatory authority may give a person a prohibition notice stating— the matters required to be stated in the prohibition notice under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 185 ; and the matters required to be stated under subsection (1) about the decision to give the prohibition notice.
(a) the matters required to be stated in the prohibition notice under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 185 ; and
(b) the matters required to be stated under subsection (1) about the decision to give the prohibition notice.
sec.44
Constitution of QCAT
sec.44 Constitution of QCAT
For a review of a reviewable decision, QCAT must be constituted, to the extent practicable, with at least 1 member with specialist knowledge and expertise relevant to the matter the subject of the review.
However, QCAT must not be constituted by a member who—
is, or was when the reviewable decision was made, an employee or officer of the department; or
has been refused a provider approval, service approval or supervisor certificate; or
has had a provider approval, service approval or supervisor certificate cancelled; or
has been refused a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 or the repealed Child Care Act 1991 ; or
has had a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 or the repealed Child Care Act 1991 revoked.
(sec.44-ssec.1) For a review of a reviewable decision, QCAT must be constituted, to the extent practicable, with at least 1 member with specialist knowledge and expertise relevant to the matter the subject of the review.
(sec.44-ssec.2) However, QCAT must not be constituted by a member who— is, or was when the reviewable decision was made, an employee or officer of the department; or has been refused a provider approval, service approval or supervisor certificate; or has had a provider approval, service approval or supervisor certificate cancelled; or has been refused a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 or the repealed Child Care Act 1991 ; or has had a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 or the repealed Child Care Act 1991 revoked.
(a) is, or was when the reviewable decision was made, an employee or officer of the department; or
(b) has been refused a provider approval, service approval or supervisor certificate; or
(c) has had a provider approval, service approval or supervisor certificate cancelled; or
(d) has been refused a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 or the repealed Child Care Act 1991 ; or
(e) has had a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 or the repealed Child Care Act 1991 revoked.
pt.4-div.5
Regulations
Regulations
sec.45
Regulation-making power
sec.45 Regulation-making power
The Governor in Council may make regulations under the local application provisions of this Act.
sec.46
Section sec.46
s 46 exp 1 January 2014 (see s 46(4))
pt.5
Transitional provisions
Transitional provisions
pt.5-div.1
Transitional provisions for Act No. 38 of 2011
Transitional provisions for Act No. 38 of 2011
sec.46-oc.2
Giving information to children’s commissioner about disciplinary action
sec.46-oc.2 Giving information to children’s commissioner about disciplinary action
This section applies if, before the scheme commencement day, disciplinary action mentioned in the Child Care Act 2002 , section 50A(1) was taken in relation to a licence for a child care service.
The Child Care Act 2002 , section 50A continues to apply in relation to the disciplinary action, even if the service is declared under this Act to be a declared approved service.
s 46 (prev s 27) reloc and renum 2025 No. 24 s 39Y (2) – (3)
(sec.46-oc.2-ssec.1) This section applies if, before the scheme commencement day, disciplinary action mentioned in the Child Care Act 2002 , section 50A(1) was taken in relation to a licence for a child care service.
(sec.46-oc.2-ssec.2) The Child Care Act 2002 , section 50A continues to apply in relation to the disciplinary action, even if the service is declared under this Act to be a declared approved service.
sec.47
QCAT reviews of decisions under Child Care Act 2002
sec.47 QCAT reviews of decisions under Child Care Act 2002
This section applies to a decision made by the chief executive under the Child Care Act 2002 before the scheme commencement day if—
the decision—
related to a licence, or an application for a licence, under that Act for a child care service; or
was to give a compliance notice relating to a contravention of a provision of the Child Care Act 2002 in relation to a child care service; and
the child care service is, on the scheme commencement day, a declared approved service; and
immediately before the scheme commencement day—
a person had a right under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 163 to apply to QCAT to have the decision reviewed but had not made an application; or
a person had applied to QCAT under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 163 to have the decision reviewed but QCAT had not finished dealing with the application.
If subsection (1)(c)(i) applies, the person may apply to QCAT, and QCAT may deal with the application, under the Child Care Act 2002 as if the service were still a child care service to which that Act applied.
If subsection (1)(c)(ii) applies, QCAT may continue to deal with the application under the Child Care Act 2002 as if the service were still a child care service to which that Act applied.
However, in exercising its powers after reviewing the decision, QCAT must make the orders it considers appropriate having regard to the provisions of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland).
An application for review mentioned in subsection (3) concerns a decision to refuse an application for a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 . QCAT may order that the chief executive issue the person a provider approval and service approval under this Act.
If, for a decision mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(ii), QCAT confirms the decision to give the compliance notice, it is taken to be a compliance notice under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland).
s 47 (prev s 28) reloc and renum 2025 No. 24 s 39Y (2) – (3)
(sec.47-ssec.1) This section applies to a decision made by the chief executive under the Child Care Act 2002 before the scheme commencement day if— the decision— related to a licence, or an application for a licence, under that Act for a child care service; or was to give a compliance notice relating to a contravention of a provision of the Child Care Act 2002 in relation to a child care service; and the child care service is, on the scheme commencement day, a declared approved service; and immediately before the scheme commencement day— a person had a right under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 163 to apply to QCAT to have the decision reviewed but had not made an application; or a person had applied to QCAT under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 163 to have the decision reviewed but QCAT had not finished dealing with the application.
(sec.47-ssec.2) If subsection (1)(c)(i) applies, the person may apply to QCAT, and QCAT may deal with the application, under the Child Care Act 2002 as if the service were still a child care service to which that Act applied.
(sec.47-ssec.3) If subsection (1)(c)(ii) applies, QCAT may continue to deal with the application under the Child Care Act 2002 as if the service were still a child care service to which that Act applied.
(sec.47-ssec.4) However, in exercising its powers after reviewing the decision, QCAT must make the orders it considers appropriate having regard to the provisions of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland). An application for review mentioned in subsection (3) concerns a decision to refuse an application for a licence under the Child Care Act 2002 . QCAT may order that the chief executive issue the person a provider approval and service approval under this Act.
(sec.47-ssec.5) If, for a decision mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(ii), QCAT confirms the decision to give the compliance notice, it is taken to be a compliance notice under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland).
(a) the decision— (i) related to a licence, or an application for a licence, under that Act for a child care service; or (ii) was to give a compliance notice relating to a contravention of a provision of the Child Care Act 2002 in relation to a child care service; and
(i) related to a licence, or an application for a licence, under that Act for a child care service; or
(ii) was to give a compliance notice relating to a contravention of a provision of the Child Care Act 2002 in relation to a child care service; and
(b) the child care service is, on the scheme commencement day, a declared approved service; and
(c) immediately before the scheme commencement day— (i) a person had a right under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 163 to apply to QCAT to have the decision reviewed but had not made an application; or (ii) a person had applied to QCAT under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 163 to have the decision reviewed but QCAT had not finished dealing with the application.
(i) a person had a right under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 163 to apply to QCAT to have the decision reviewed but had not made an application; or
(ii) a person had applied to QCAT under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 163 to have the decision reviewed but QCAT had not finished dealing with the application.
(i) related to a licence, or an application for a licence, under that Act for a child care service; or
(ii) was to give a compliance notice relating to a contravention of a provision of the Child Care Act 2002 in relation to a child care service; and
(i) a person had a right under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 163 to apply to QCAT to have the decision reviewed but had not made an application; or
(ii) a person had applied to QCAT under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 163 to have the decision reviewed but QCAT had not finished dealing with the application.
sec.48
Chief executive reviews of compliance notice decisions under Child Care Act 2002
sec.48 Chief executive reviews of compliance notice decisions under Child Care Act 2002
This section applies to a decision made by the chief executive under the Child Care Act 2002 before the scheme commencement day if—
the decision was to give to a person a compliance notice relating to a contravention of a provision of the Child Care Act 2002 ; and
the contravention related to a child care service that is, on the scheme commencement day, a declared approved service; and
immediately before the scheme commencement day—
a person had a right under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 164B to apply to the chief executive to have the decision reviewed but had not made an application; or
a person had applied to the chief executive under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 164B to have the decision reviewed but the chief executive had not finished dealing with the application.
If subsection (1)(c)(i) applies, the person may apply to the chief executive, and the chief executive may deal with the application, under the Child Care Act 2002 as if the service were still a child care service to which that Act applied.
If subsection (1)(c)(ii) applies, the chief executive may continue to deal with the application under the Child Care Act 2002 as if the service were still a child care service to which that Act applied.
If the chief executive confirms the decision to give the compliance notice, it is taken to be a compliance notice under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland).
s 48 (prev s 29) reloc and renum 2025 No. 24 s 39Y (2) – (3)
(sec.48-ssec.1) This section applies to a decision made by the chief executive under the Child Care Act 2002 before the scheme commencement day if— the decision was to give to a person a compliance notice relating to a contravention of a provision of the Child Care Act 2002 ; and the contravention related to a child care service that is, on the scheme commencement day, a declared approved service; and immediately before the scheme commencement day— a person had a right under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 164B to apply to the chief executive to have the decision reviewed but had not made an application; or a person had applied to the chief executive under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 164B to have the decision reviewed but the chief executive had not finished dealing with the application.
(sec.48-ssec.2) If subsection (1)(c)(i) applies, the person may apply to the chief executive, and the chief executive may deal with the application, under the Child Care Act 2002 as if the service were still a child care service to which that Act applied.
(sec.48-ssec.3) If subsection (1)(c)(ii) applies, the chief executive may continue to deal with the application under the Child Care Act 2002 as if the service were still a child care service to which that Act applied.
(sec.48-ssec.4) If the chief executive confirms the decision to give the compliance notice, it is taken to be a compliance notice under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland).
(a) the decision was to give to a person a compliance notice relating to a contravention of a provision of the Child Care Act 2002 ; and
(b) the contravention related to a child care service that is, on the scheme commencement day, a declared approved service; and
(c) immediately before the scheme commencement day— (i) a person had a right under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 164B to apply to the chief executive to have the decision reviewed but had not made an application; or (ii) a person had applied to the chief executive under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 164B to have the decision reviewed but the chief executive had not finished dealing with the application.
(i) a person had a right under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 164B to apply to the chief executive to have the decision reviewed but had not made an application; or
(ii) a person had applied to the chief executive under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 164B to have the decision reviewed but the chief executive had not finished dealing with the application.
(i) a person had a right under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 164B to apply to the chief executive to have the decision reviewed but had not made an application; or
(ii) a person had applied to the chief executive under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 164B to have the decision reviewed but the chief executive had not finished dealing with the application.
sec.49
Authorised officers
sec.49 Authorised officers
This section applies to an appointment of a person as an authorised officer under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 111 that was in force immediately before the scheme commencement day.
The appointment continues as an authorisation of the person under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland), section 195 until it ends under that Law.
As soon as practicable after the scheme commencement day, the chief executive must issue to the person an identity card under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland), section 196.
Subsection (2) does not affect the operation of the appointment under the Child Care Act 2002 on or after the scheme commencement day.
s 49 (prev s 30) reloc and renum 2025 No. 24 s 39Y (2) – (3)
(sec.49-ssec.1) This section applies to an appointment of a person as an authorised officer under the Child Care Act 2002 , section 111 that was in force immediately before the scheme commencement day.
(sec.49-ssec.2) The appointment continues as an authorisation of the person under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland), section 195 until it ends under that Law.
(sec.49-ssec.3) As soon as practicable after the scheme commencement day, the chief executive must issue to the person an identity card under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland), section 196.
(sec.49-ssec.4) Subsection (2) does not affect the operation of the appointment under the Child Care Act 2002 on or after the scheme commencement day.
sec.50
Application of Information Privacy Act 2009 and Right to Information Act 2009
sec.50 Application of Information Privacy Act 2009 and Right to Information Act 2009
To remove any doubt, it is declared that section 6(1)(b) and (c) do not affect the application of the Information Privacy Act 2009 and the Right to Information Act 2009 in relation to the Child Care Act 2002 or instruments made under that Act.
Before the scheme commencement day, an application is made for a licence for a child care service under the Child Care Act 2002 . Even if the child care service becomes an education and care service, a person’s right of access under the Right to Information Act 2009 to documents of the department relating to the application is unaffected.
s 50 (prev s 31) reloc and renum 2025 No. 24 s 39Y (2) – (3)
pt.5-div.2
Transitional provisions for Education (General Provisions) Amendment Act 2025
Transitional provisions for Education (General Provisions) Amendment Act 2025
sec.51
Definition for division
sec.51 Definition for division
In this division—
rest period condition , in relation to a service approval for an approved education and care service, means a condition providing for 1 or more periods during a day, totalling not more than 2 hours during the day, to be rest periods for the approved education and care service.
s 51 ins 2025 No. 24 s 39Z
sec.52
Rest period condition of no effect
sec.52 Rest period condition of no effect
This section applies in relation to a service approval if, immediately before the commencement, the service approval was subject to a rest period condition.
From the commencement—
the rest period condition is of no effect; and
the service approval is taken not to be subject to the rest period condition.
s 52 ins 2025 No. 24 s 39Z
(sec.52-ssec.1) This section applies in relation to a service approval if, immediately before the commencement, the service approval was subject to a rest period condition.
(sec.52-ssec.2) From the commencement— the rest period condition is of no effect; and the service approval is taken not to be subject to the rest period condition.
(a) the rest period condition is of no effect; and
(b) the service approval is taken not to be subject to the rest period condition.
sec.53
Undecided applications including request for rest period condition
sec.53 Undecided applications including request for rest period condition
This section applies in relation to an application under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) for a service approval or an amendment of a service approval made before the commencement if—
the application included a request for a rest period condition; and
immediately before the commencement, the application had not been decided.
The application must be decided as if it had not included the request for the rest period condition.
s 53 ins 2025 No. 24 s 39Z
(sec.53-ssec.1) This section applies in relation to an application under the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) for a service approval or an amendment of a service approval made before the commencement if— the application included a request for a rest period condition; and immediately before the commencement, the application had not been decided.
(sec.53-ssec.2) The application must be decided as if it had not included the request for the rest period condition.
(a) the application included a request for a rest period condition; and
(b) immediately before the commencement, the application had not been decided.
sec.54
Revocation of authority for particular employees or officers of Corporation of the Bishops
sec.54 Revocation of authority for particular employees or officers of Corporation of the Bishops
This section applies if—
before the commencement, the chief executive gave written authority under section 33 to an employee or officer of the Corporation of the Bishops; and
immediately before the commencement, the authority was still in force.
On the commencement, the authority is revoked.
In this section—
Corporation of the Bishops means the Corporation of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Queensland established under the Roman Catholic Church (Incorporation of Church Entities) Act 1994 .
s 54 ins 2025 No. 24 s 39Z
(sec.54-ssec.1) This section applies if— before the commencement, the chief executive gave written authority under section 33 to an employee or officer of the Corporation of the Bishops; and immediately before the commencement, the authority was still in force.
(sec.54-ssec.2) On the commencement, the authority is revoked.
(sec.54-ssec.3) In this section— Corporation of the Bishops means the Corporation of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Queensland established under the Roman Catholic Church (Incorporation of Church Entities) Act 1994 .
(a) before the commencement, the chief executive gave written authority under section 33 to an employee or officer of the Corporation of the Bishops; and
(b) immediately before the commencement, the authority was still in force.
Source text: opening excerpt
Sourced from Queensland Legislation (legislation.qld.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
pt.1 Preliminary
Preliminary
sec.1 Short title
sec.1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) Act 2011 .
sec.2 Commencement
sec.2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day or days to be fixed by proclamation.
Different days may be appointed under subsection (1) for the commencement of different provisions of the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria.
The Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 15DA does not apply to this Act.
(sec.2-ssec.1) This Act commences on a day or days to be fixed by proclamation.
(sec.2-ssec.2) Different days may be appointed under subsection (1) for the commencement of different provisions of the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria.
(sec.2-ssec.3) The Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 15DA does not apply to this Act.
sec.3 Definitions
sec.3 Definitions
In this Act—
Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) means the provisions applying in this jurisdiction because of section 4 .
local application provisions of this Act means the provisions of this Act other than the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
scheme commencement day see the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 305 .
Terms used in the local application provisions of this Act and also in the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria have the same meanings in the local application provisions of this Act as they have in that Law.
(sec.3-ssec.1) In this Act— Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) means the provisions applying in this jurisdiction because of section 4 . local application provisions of this Act means the provisions of this Act other than the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) . scheme commencement day see the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 305 .
(sec.3-ssec.2) Terms used in the local application provisions of this Act and also in the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria have the same meanings in the local application provisions of this Act as they have in that Law.
pt.2 Adoption of National Law
Adoption of National Law
sec.4 Adoption of Education and Care Services National Law
to apply certain Commonwealth Acts (Privacy Act 1988, Freedom of Information Act 1982, Ombudsman Act 1976) into the National Law framework as if references to the Administrative Review Tribunal were references to QCAT (ss 39-41);
to preserve and explain external review processes through QCAT for reviewable decisions and to set composition constraints for QCAT members in such reviews (div 4, ss 42-44);
to provide regulation‑making power to the Governor in Council for the local application provisions (s 45), and to record specific transitional measures (pt 5).
The Act therefore performs three mechanical functions: constitutionalising the National Law within Queensland; specifying institutional arrangements and inter‑agency information flows (particularly with the Working with Children Check system and with central governing bodies for kindergarten funding); and creating a local overlay of transitional, data governance, exclusions and review provisions (for example, s 6 exclusions and the URL data regime in ss 32-37). Several sections explicitly state how information may be given, requested or withheld and set boundaries on the content of notices (for example, ss 20(3), 20(7), 21(3), 21(7)).
The Act itself contains statements that reflect administrative purposes where present. For example, s 35 explicitly enumerates permitted uses of URL data (quality assuring funding, planning, monitoring outcomes, preparing data for disclosure). Those statements are claim‑of‑purpose elements embedded in the operative text and therefore both authorising and limiting: where the chief executive receives URL data, the Chief Executive may use it only for the listed purposes (s 35(1)). Where the National Law requires the regulatory authority to take disciplinary action (as listed in s 20(1)), the regulatory authority must notify the chief executive (employment screening) where it reasonably believes the action may be relevant to employment screening (s 20(2)).
Mechanically, the Act also reshapes administrative oversight and transparency: it removes the application of certain Queensland accountability Acts to the National Law or instruments under it (s 6), while importing Commonwealth privacy, FOI and ombudsman frameworks into the National Law via QCAT (ss 39-41). The Act stipulates concrete duties, permissible disclosures and specified penalties , for example, a maximum 40 penalty units for misuse of URL data by authorised officers of a central governing body (s 37(3)).
All operative duties, powers and limits below should be read against the statutory rule that a penalty stated at the end of a provision in the National Law indicates the maximum penalty on conviction (s 17).
Main concepts
The Act is short on abstract policy theory and long on operational definitions and allocations of authority. The main concepts are defined or declared in the text and are the levers by which the statutory regime operates.
Adoption of the National Law: The Education and Care Services National Law, “as in force from time to time,” is adopted as law in Queensland and may be referred to as the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) (s 4). The local application provisions are the remainder of this Act (s 3).
Regulatory authority and children’s services regulator: The chief executive of the department administering the Education and Care Services Act 2013 is declared to be the children’s services regulator for National Law purposes (s 9); the chief executive is also declared to be the regulatory authority for the jurisdiction (s 14). These declarations fix which administrative office holds the National Law functions (see s 14 and s 9).
Mapping of existing Queensland laws and terms: The Act maps particular Queensland Acts as the relevant “children’s services law,” “education law,” “working with children law,” “infringements law,” and “public sector law” for the National Law’s use (see ss 8, 10, 16, 12, 13). It also gives local meanings to generic terms that appear in the National Law, for example, defining “child protection law” as the Child Protection Act 1999 and “public authority” to mean a public sector unit as used in the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 (s 7).
Exclusions and limited application of Queensland Acts: Section 6 lists Queensland Acts that do not apply to the National Law or instruments made under it (Acts Interpretation Act 1954; Information Privacy Act 2009; Right to Information Act 2009; Statutory Instruments Act 1992, subject to s 303 of the National Law). It separately declares that certain accountability Acts do not apply to the National Law as it affects the regulatory authority and its employees, decisions, actions and records, except where the National Law itself applies them (s 6(3)).
Interaction with Working with Children Check regime: Part 3 establishes information exchange mechanisms between the regulatory authority under the National Law and the chief executive responsible for employment screening under the Working with Children Check Act 2000. This includes mandatory notification of disciplinary actions (s 20), mandatory notification of prohibition notices (s 21), and requests for and provision of status information about WWC applications and authorities (s 22). The part also protects individuals temporally in certain circumstances (e.g. s 23-24: pending WWC applications for corporate officers and executive committee members do not by themselves make the individual “not a fit and proper person” for National Law purposes).
URL data regime for kindergarten programs: Division 2 (pts 4) defines “URL data” narrowly and prescriptively (s 32), authorises specified persons to receive, use and disclose that data (ss 33-35), sets aggregation and de‑identification requirements for reporting (s 35(3); s 37(2)), authorises disclosure to specific Commonwealth entities for national reporting (s 36), and imposes criminal/penalty constraints on misuse by authorised officers of central governing bodies (s 37(3)). The chief executive may authorise central governing body officers to receive URL data if satisfied they have appropriate expertise (s 33). Relevant services and central governing bodies have specific disclosure routes (s 34).
External review and tribunal mapping: The Act identifies QCAT and the Magistrates Court as the “relevant tribunal or court” for specific National Law appeals and reviews (s 15) and requires the regulatory authority to give prescribed notices after reviewable decisions (s 43). The Act also requires QCAT panels to include members with specialist knowledge where practicable and sets explicit disqualification criteria for members in reviews of reviewable decisions (s 44).
Transitional conversions and continuity: Section 18 converts existing licences, approvals and qualifications under the repealed Child Care Acts into National Law equivalents (declared approved family day care service, declared approved service, declared approved provider, declared certified supervisor, declared nominated supervisor, declared compliance notices and declared out‑of‑scope services).
Each of these main concepts is expressed as an operational command or declaration in the text. Where the Act states a purpose for a power (for example, s 35 lists purposes for chief executive use of URL data), the purpose both authorises and bounds the permitted use. Where the Act disapplies a transparency or privacy statute, it does so by listing it in s 6 and then clarifying exceptions and savings (for example, s 6(2)).
Who it affects
The Act identifies concrete classes of persons, public offices and entities that are affected by its provisions; these are the decision‑makers, reporting entities, subjects of information exchange, and review participants.
The regulatory authority and chief executive: The chief executive of the department administering the Education and Care Services Act 2013 is declared to be both the children’s services regulator and the regulatory authority for the jurisdiction (ss 9 and 14). That office must perform notification duties (see ss 20-22), receive URL data (ss 34-36), and give review notices (s 43). The chief executive also may authorise authorised officers and must issue identity cards for authorised officers continuing from prior law (s 49).
Approved providers and persons with management or control: The Act explicitly affects approved providers and persons with management or control of education and care services (s 22(1)). Those persons are subject to information checks under the Working with Children Check framework, and the regulatory authority may request and receive WWC status information about them (s 22). Corporations that are approved providers are covered by the pending application rules for corporate officers (s 23). Eligible associations acting as approved providers are covered by s 24.
Staff, certified supervisors and educators: Certified supervisors, educators and adult occupants of family day care residences are specified recipients of the WWC‑status information that the chief executive (employment screening) may provide to the regulatory authority upon written request (s 22). The Act also treats persons who were qualified directors, coordinators or group leaders under the former Child Care Acts as declared certified/nominated supervisors during transitional periods (s 18).
Children and families: URL data (s 32) includes unit‑record level information about enrolled children: name, date of birth, gender, primary residence address, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identification, primary language, health care card status, disability or long‑term medical condition status, and attendance hours. These disclosures affect families and individual children because the data is collected and may be used for specified planning and reporting purposes (ss 34-36).
Central governing bodies (CGBs) and their authorised officers: Entities prescribed as central governing bodies that receive departmental funding for approved kindergarten programs and their authorised officers are affected by ss 32-38. The chief executive may give written authority to individual employees or officers of a CGB to receive, use and disclose URL data (s 33). Authorised officers have defined uses (s 37) and a maximum penalty for unauthorised recording, use or disclosure (s 37(3), 40 penalty units).
Courts and tribunals: QCAT and the Magistrates Court are explicitly declared the decision review forums for particular National Law decisions (s 15). QCAT is given substituted jurisdiction to hear applications under Commonwealth Acts applied to the National Law (ss 39-41). QCAT’s constitution for reviews is constrained by s 44.
Executors and corporate officers in narrow circumstances: Section 26 protects executors of an approved provider’s estate from certain offences under the Working with Children Check Act 2000 for the “relevant period” (defined in the National Law, see s 26(5) referencing National Law s 39(7)). Sections 23 and 24 protect corporate officers and executive committee members who have pending WWC applications from being treated as not fit and proper solely on that ground.
Regulatory oversight agencies (limited): Section 6 specifically excludes the Auditor‑General Act, Financial Accountability Act, Ombudsman Act, Public Records Act, and Public Sector Act from applying to the National Law or instruments made under it in relation to the regulatory authority and its employees, except to the extent the National Law itself applies. This changes which oversight mechanisms automatically apply and therefore affects external auditors, Ombudsman jurisdictional reach, record‑keeping obligations and public sector employment rules in the context of National Law functions.
Providers previously licensed under Child Care Acts: Transitional declarations (s 18) explicitly convert existing licensed services, licence holders, staff qualifications and compliance notices under the Child Care Act 2002 into National Law constructs. This affects continuity of approvals, certifications and live compliance actions at the changeover.
In short, the Act primarily affects: the chief executive/regulatory authority; approved providers and their controllers; staff, certified supervisors and educators; families and children through the URL data regime; central governing bodies and their authorised officers; and the tribunal and review structures (QCAT and Magistrates Court). The Act also alters which Queensland oversight laws apply to the National Law functions (s 6), affecting accountability relationships for the regulatory authority.
Key duties and rights
The Act creates specific duties on public offices and authorised persons, and preserves or clarifies rights of review and certain procedural protections for individuals.
Key duties
Notification duties by the regulatory authority to the chief executive (employment screening): If the regulatory authority takes particular disciplinary actions under the National Law (listed in s 20(1), including amendment, suspension or cancellation of provider approvals, service approvals or supervisor certificates under enumerated National Law sections), and it reasonably believes the disciplinary action may be relevant to the functions of the chief executive (employment screening), it must give written notice of the disciplinary action (s 20(2)). The base notice must provide name and address, date and place of birth if known, and the fact that disciplinary action has been taken without stating further detail (s 20(3)). If the chief executive requests further information and notifies the regulatory authority that the person holds, or has applied for, a working with children authority, the regulatory authority must provide further, detailed written information (s 20(5)). The regulatory authority must notify the chief executive if the disciplinary action is set aside on review or appeal and provide reasons (s 20(8)).
Notification duties about prohibition notices: Where the regulatory authority gives a prohibition notice under the National Law (part 7, div 3), it must give written notice to the chief executive (employment screening) including name, address, and date/place of birth if known, and that a prohibition notice was given (s 21(2)-(3)). If further information is requested and the person holds or has applied for a working with children authority, the regulatory authority must provide specified further details (s 21(5)). If the prohibition notice is set aside on review or appeal, the regulatory authority must notify the chief executive with reasons (s 21(8)). Notices about prohibition notices must not identify a particular child (s 21(7)).
Requests and supply of WWC status information: On written request from the regulatory authority, the chief executive (employment screening) must give the regulatory authority certain status information about specified individuals (approved providers, persons with management or control, certified supervisors, educators, adult occupants of family day care residences): whether the individual has applied for WWC, dates of application/withdrawal, whether authority or negative notice is in force and dates of issue or cancellation (s 22(2)). The chief executive may provide certain information unrequested (s 22(3)).
URL data collection, disclosure and use duties and constraints: Relevant services may disclose URL data to the chief executive; authorised persons for CGB services may disclose URL data to authorised officers of a central governing body; authorised officers of CGBs may disclose URL data to the chief executive (s 34). The chief executive may use URL data only for enumerated purposes (quality assurance of funding, planning/monitoring/reporting, preparing data for disclosure) (s 35(1)). For certain uses, the chief executive may disclose URL data, including aggregated URL data, to authorised officers of a central governing body (s 35(2)). When reporting about outcomes and planning, URL data must be aggregated and non‑identifying (s 35(3)). Authorised officers of a central governing body may use URL data only for the listed purposes, and any reporting must be aggregated and non‑identifying (s 37(1)-(2)). There is a statutory maximum penalty (40 penalty units) for authorised officers of CGBs who record, use or disclose URL data other than under the permitted sections (s 37(3)).
Ministerial tabling of amendments made to the National Law in Victoria: If the National Law as set out in the Victorian schedule is amended, the Minister must table a copy of the amendment in the Legislative Assembly (s 5(2)). Failure to table does not affect the application of the amendment (s 5(3)).
Post‑decision notice duty by the regulatory authority: Immediately after making a reviewable decision, the regulatory authority must give the person who is the subject of the decision a notice that complies with QCAT Act s 157(2) (s 43(1)). The regulatory authority may combine that notice with other statutory notices, for example in prohibition notices (s 43(2)-(3)).
Key rights and protections
Procedural review rights in QCAT and Magistrates Court: Reviewable decisions under the National Law are to be reviewed as set out in National Law s 192; the Act defines “relevant tribunal or court” as the Magistrates Court or QCAT for particular National Law reviews (s 15) and requires notice obligations and QCAT composition protections (ss 42-44). QCAT must, to the extent practicable, include at least one member with specialist knowledge relevant to the matter (s 44(1)). QCAT members are disqualified from constituting a review where they were departmental employees at the time the decision was made or have previously had approvals or licences refused or revoked under the old Child Care Acts or National Law (s 44(2)).
Temporary protection against being treated as not “fit and proper”: Sections 23 and 24 state that, for corporate officers and eligible association executive committee members who become responsible for managing a service, a pending application for a working with children card or check must not, by itself, be taken to mean the individual is not a fit and proper person under the National Law. This protection lasts until the application is decided, withdrawn or lapses (ss 23(2)-(3); 24(2)-(3)).
Executor protection on death of sole approved provider: Section 26 provides that an executor who operates an approved service during the “relevant period” does not commit particular WWC offences for operating without a WWC clearance or exemption, where the executor has applied for clearance within the period and does not withdraw the application (s 26(2)-(3)). If the executor is a corporation, the protection extends to executive officers (s 26(4)).
Privacy constraints on notices: Notices provided under ss 20 and 21 must not contain information that identifies, or is likely to identify, a particular child (s 20(7); s 21(7)).
Aggregation and de‑identification requirements: Aggregation requirements for reporting URL data are mandatory where the chief executive or authorised officers report on outcomes (s 35(3); s 37(2)). Where URL data is disclosed to prescribed Commonwealth entities under s 36, the receiving entities are bound to ensure privacy is protected by the way the data is collected, stored and used (s 36(2)).
Transitional continuities: The Act declares a range of transitional continuities for licences, approvals and staff certifications from the Child Care Acts into declared National Law equivalents (s 18). Those declarations preserve continuity of status and rights where the scheme commences, while setting the new statutory labels.
These duties and rights reallocate information flows, create compliance obligations for public offices and authorised officers, and protect individual procedural rights in review processes and limited substantive protections for persons with pending WWC applications. Every notice, disclosure and use is subject to statutory bounds in the text (for example, content limits for notices in ss 20-21 and aggregation non‑identifiability requirements in ss 35-37).
Penalties and enforcement
The Act does not attempt to reproduce the full enforcement schedule of the National Law in the local application provisions, but it does create concrete penalties and enforcement mechanisms for certain local behaviours and sets the institutional enforcement architecture.
Express penalties and sanctions in the local application provisions
Maximum penalty for misuse of URL data by authorised officers of a central governing body: Section 37(3) sets a maximum penalty of 40 penalty units where an authorised officer who is or has been such an officer receives or received URL data under the division and records, uses or discloses it other than under the permitted provisions (s 37(3)). That is the clearest express penalty in the local application provisions.
Section 17 general interpretative note: Section 17 states that a penalty at the end of a provision in the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) indicates that a contravention is punishable on conviction by a penalty not more than the stated penalty. This is not a new penalty but an interpretative rule linking the National Law penalty statements to criminal sanctions on conviction.
Enforcement mechanisms
Administrative enforcement through the regulatory authority: The Act contemplates administrative sanctions under the National Law, and many of the measures in the local application provisions concern administrative reporting and consequence flow. For example, the regulatory authority is the entity that takes disciplinary action under the National Law (enumerated in s 20(1) for the purposes of notification), gives prohibition notices (s 21), amends, suspends or cancels approvals (s 20(1) cross‑referencing National Law provisions), and issues identity cards to authorised officers (s 49). The Act therefore places enforcement power primarily in the regulatory authority and the chief executive.
Information‑driven cross‑agency enforcement: Where the regulatory authority takes disciplinary action or issues prohibition notices, statutory duties compel it to inform the chief executive (employment screening) (ss 20-21). Conversely, the chief executive (employment screening) provides the regulatory authority with WWC status information on request (s 22). These flows enable employment screening outcomes to inform regulatory enforcement and vice versa.
Tribunal review and judicial oversight: Reviewable decisions are subject to external review by QCAT (s 42; s 43 requires notice after a reviewable decision). QCAT constitution rules for these reviews are specified (s 44). The Magistrates Court is the relevant court for certain National Law matters (s 15). The Act also applies certain Commonwealth oversight Acts into the National Law framework through QCAT substitution (Privacy Act, FOI Act and Ombudsman Act applied as if Administrative Review Tribunal references were to QCAT, ss 39-41), creating additional review and oversight pathways.
Civil and criminal liability reproduced via the National Law: The Act adopts the National Law “as in force from time to time” (s 4). Any offences and penalties in the National Law itself remain enforceable in Queensland subject to the interpretative rule in s 17. The local provisions supplement those by specifying information exchange obligations and the URL data misuse penalty.
Implementation and compliance enforcement risks signalled by the text
Enforcement via information exchange depends on accurate person‑identifying data: For the chief executive (employment screening) to request further information under s 20(5) or s 21(5) where a notice did not include date and place of birth, the request must include the person’s date and place of birth and the regulatory authority must confirm those details with the person (s 20(6); s 21(6)). That creates a compliance dependency on collecting and verifying birth details.
Penalties tied to scope‑limited authorisations: The 40 penalty unit maximum in s 37 applies only to authorised officers of a central governing body who receive URL data under the division and act outside the permitted uses. The existence of this specific penalty creates an enforcement perimeter whose shape depends on who has written authority under s 33 and the factual question of who received URL data under s 34. Enforcement discretion will therefore require clear record keeping of authorisations and data receipt chains.
Reduced application of certain Queensland oversight Acts: By excluding application of the Information Privacy Act 2009 and Right to Information Act 2009 to the National Law (s 6(1)(b)-(c)), the Act alters the standard Queensland enforcement and transparency channels; however the Act also imports Commonwealth privacy/FOI regimes into the National Law via QCAT (ss 39-40) and places obligations on prescribed entities receiving URL data (s 36(2)). The net enforcement landscape will therefore require administrators to navigate both exclusions and imported Commonwealth regimes.
In summary, enforcement under the local application provisions relies heavily on administrative action by the regulatory authority, structured information exchanges with the WWC chief executive, and tribunal review through QCAT and the Magistrates Court. The single explicit monetary sanction in the local provisions is s 37(3). Other sanctions and criminal offences will be those in the National Law as adopted, with the interpretative guidance in s 17 about penalty notices.
How it interacts with other laws
The Act is essentially an exercise in statutory mapping and selective cross‑application. It adopts the Education and Care Services National Law wholesale into Queensland and then stipulates how other Queensland and Commonwealth laws relate to that National Law.
Adoption and amendment linkage
Adoption of National Law: Section 4 makes the National Law (as in force from time to time in the Victorian schedule) apply in Queensland “as if it were part of this Act.” That creates a direct conduit by which Victoria’s schedule updates (and any subsequent amendments to the National Law as enacted in Victoria) apply in Queensland.
Ministerial tabling requirement: If the National Law is amended in the Victorian schedule, the Minister must table a copy of that amendment in the Legislative Assembly (s 5). The section explicitly states failure to table does not affect the amendment’s application (s 5(3)), so tabling is a transparency step rather than a precondition for operation.
Queensland Acts expressly mapped in or out
Declared laws and meanings: The Act declares which Queensland laws are to be read as “children’s services law,” “education law,” “working with children law,” “infringements law,” and “public sector law” for National Law purposes (ss 8, 10, 16, 12, 13). This is a direct interaction enabling the National Law to reference local legislation by name and for those local laws to supply legal meanings and ancillary mechanisms.
Exclusions: Section 6 explicitly excludes several Queensland Acts from applying to the National Law or instruments under it: the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, Information Privacy Act 2009, Right to Information Act 2009, and the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 (with an express exception for s 303 of the National Law). Section 6(3) further declares that certain accountability Acts (Auditor‑General Act 2009; Financial Accountability Act 2009; Ombudsman Act 2001; Public Records Act 2023; Public Sector Act 2022) do not apply to the National Law or instruments under it insofar as those laws would apply to the regulatory authority and its employees, decisions, actions and records , except to the extent the National Law itself applies to the regulatory authority. These exclusions materially change the usual overlay of Queensland administrative law and accountability for National Law functions.
Savings and clarifications: Section 6 also contains saving clarifications, for example that s 6(1)(a) does not limit the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 applying to the local application provisions of this Act and that certain references in other sections should be read in light of the Acts Interpretation Act scheduling (s 6(2)). Section 50 also clarifies that s 6(1)(b)-(c) do not affect the application of the Information Privacy Act 2009 and the Right to Information Act 2009 in relation to the Child Care Act 2002 or instruments under that Act (s 50).
Interaction with Commonwealth Acts
Privacy, FOI and Ombudsman Acts via QCAT: The Act applies the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988, Freedom of Information Act 1982 and Ombudsman Act 1976 to the National Law via references to Administrative Review Tribunal being read as references to QCAT (ss 39-41). These sections also operate as enabling Acts under the QCAT Act to confer jurisdiction on QCAT to apply those Commonwealth Acts as mentioned. Section 41 explicitly states that QCAT has the jurisdiction even to the extent it is not original, review or appeal jurisdiction.
Early childhood data agreement and prescribed entities: Section 36 authorises disclosure of URL data to prescribed Commonwealth entities for Queensland to meet obligations under the “early childhood data agreement” (the National information agreement on early childhood education and care). The prescribed entities are the ABS and the AIHW (s 36(3)). A prescribed entity that receives URL data must ensure privacy protections for the persons to whom it relates (s 36(2)).
Interaction with the Working with Children Check Act 2000
Information flows: Part 3 creates direct, mandatory flows between the regulatory authority and the chief executive (employment screening) under the Working with Children Check Act 2000. The regulatory authority must notify the WWC chief executive about disciplinary actions (s 20) and prohibition notices (s 21) and provide further details on request (subject to child‑identification limits). The WWC chief executive must provide WWC status information on request to the regulatory authority (s 22). These interactions are cross‑regulatory and designed to coordinate employment screening decisions with regulatory disciplinary outcomes.
Transitional law interactions
Conversion of existing Child Care Act licences and certificates: Section 18 declares that various licences, licence holders and certified personnel under the Child Care Act 2002 are to be treated as declared approved services/providers/certified supervisors under the National Law. Sections 46-49 (transitional provisions) provide for continuation of certain processes and review rights over decisions made under the Child Care Act prior to the scheme commencement day.
Practical cross‑statutory implications implied by the text
Accountability and transparency: The Act’s exclusion of Queensland information and oversight statutes from applying to the National Law (s 6) and its simultaneous importation of Commonwealth privacy and FOI frameworks (ss 39-41) creates a cross‑jurisdictional accountability framework that will require implementers to reconcile Queensland and Commonwealth standards and to determine which instrument governs access and privacy questions for particular documents or data. Section 50 preserves pre‑scheme RTI/IP access in specified Child Care Act circumstances, creating a patchwork for pre‑ and post‑scheme documents.
Data governance across levels: URL data may flow among relevant services, central governing bodies, the chief executive, and specific Commonwealth entities (ss 34-36). Each node in that chain has defined permitted uses and privacy obligations; the Act imposes aggregation and non‑identifiability constraints for reporting and requires prescribed entities to ensure privacy protections (s 36(2)). That creates a multi‑statute governance structure that mixes local administrative powers and Commonwealth statistical obligations.
In sum, the Act is a regulatory mapping instrument that adopts the National Law and carefully specifies which Queensland laws apply, which are excluded, how the National Law interacts with Commonwealth regimes via QCAT, and how data and employment‑screening systems are to interact with National Law administration. The cross‑statutory architecture imposes duties and creates exemptions; implementers must follow the explicit mappings in ss 4-6 and 33-41.
Amendment history
The Act text as provided is annotated with in‑text amendment and insertion notes that identify statutory changes and when sections were added, amended or omitted. The source text shows multiple amendment entries attached to specific sections. Below is a section‑by‑section summary of the amendment annotations that appear in the provided material (the Act text itself records the annotations; this list reproduces those annotations rather than interpreting their substantive effect).
s 6: Annotated “s 6 amd 2013 No. 39 s 110 (1) sch 3 pt 1; 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2; 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3; 2023 No. 33 s 107 sch 4.” The section includes multiple subsections added or updated and contains amendment notes.
s 7: Annotated “s 7 amd 2013 No. 39 s 110 (1) sch 3 pt 1.” Indicates amendment in 2013.
s 8: Annotated “s 8 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2.” Indicates amendment in 2013.
s 9: Annotated “s 9 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2.” Indicates amendment in 2013.
s 10: Annotated “s 10 amd 2014 No. 25 s 223 sch 1 pt 2; 2017 No. 24 s 212.” Indicates amendments in 2014 and 2017.
s 11: Annotated “s 11 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2.” Indicates amendment in 2013.
s 12: No explicit amendment annotation in the provided text beyond the section title.
s 13: Annotated “s 13 amd 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3.” Amended 2022.
s 14: No explicit amendment annotation beyond section title.
s 15: No explicit amendment annotation beyond section title.
s 16: Annotated “s 16 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1; 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 1.” Indicates amendments in 2014 and 2024.
s 17: No explicit amendment annotation beyond section title.
s 18: Annotated “s 18 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1; 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2; 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2.” Multiple amendments recorded.
pt 3 div 1 s 19: Annotated “s 19 def chief executive (employment screening) amd 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2; s 19 def working with children authority ins 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2; s 19 def working with children check application ins 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2; s 19 sub 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1.” Shows insertions and amendments across 2014, 2019, 2024.
s 20: Annotated “s 20 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1; 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2; 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2.” Multiple amendments.
s 21: Annotated “s 21 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1; 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2; 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2.” Multiple amendments.
s 22: Annotated “s 22 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1; 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2; 2024 No. 50 s 140 sch 1; 2024 No. 49 s 130 sch 4 pt 2.” Shows a 2024 insertion and amendments across 2014, 2019 and 2024.
s 23-s 26: Each carries amendment notes. Section 23 notes “s 23 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2; 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1 om 2019 No. 18 s 86 (2) sch 2.” Section 26 has amendment notes across 2014, 2019 and 2024, indicating insertions and amendments.
Division 2 (URL data) and sections 32-38: Many of these sections show “ins” (inserted) or “amd” annotations and specific year references. For example s 32 contains in‑text definitions without a separate amendment annotation; s 33-37 include “s 37 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2.” Section 38 references continuity via an amendment note.
Sections 39-41 (Commonwealth Acts application) include an amendment note “s 39 amd 2024 No. 47 s 78 sch 2; s 40 amd 2024 No. 47 s 78 sch 2; s 41 amd 2024 No. 47 s 78 sch 2.” These indicate a 2024 statutory update aligning QCAT jurisdiction substitutions.
Division 4 (external review) sections 42-44 carry no specific amendment footnotes beyond their contents, but the transitional and regulatory sections following carry relocation and renumbering notes (see pt 5).
Part 5 transitional sections include multiple “reloc and renum” and “ins” annotations: s 46‑oc.2 is annotated “reloc and renum 2025 No. 24 s 39Y (2) - (3)”; s 47 and s 48 also have relocation/renumbering notes; s 51-54 are annotated “ins 2025 No. 24 s 39Z” and similar.
This list reproduces the recorded amendment annotations present in the Act text supplied. The Act therefore bears a history of incremental changes across the 2013-2025 period as reflected in the footnote annotations. Practitioners should consult the consolidated statute and the official reprints for the precise operative text and to track the chronological sequencing of amendments. The Minister’s obligation to table Victoria’s National Law amendments in Queensland (s 5) means that the National Law as applied in Queensland will continue to reflect changes made to the Victorian schedule, and those tabling entries in the legislative record will assist in reconstructing amendment chronology.
Litigation history
The provided statutory text contains no judicial decisions, case names, or litigation citations. The Act itself establishes tribunal and court fora for review and specifies procedural contours, but it does not record or cite any cases.
Points relevant to litigation or dispute resolution that the Act does specify and therefore that litigators should note:
QCAT and Magistrates Court roles: The Act declares the Magistrates Court and QCAT to be the relevant bodies for particular National Law reviews (s 15). QCAT is to be constituted with at least one member having specialist knowledge where practicable (s 44(1)). QCAT members who are current or former department employees when the decision was made, or who previously had provider approvals/service approvals/supervisor certificates refused, cancelled or licences under the Child Care Acts revoked are disqualified from constituting the review (s 44(2)). These composition constraints are substantive and potentially litigable if a party alleges procedural unfairness.
External review definition and timing: The Act references the National Law reviewable decision definition (s 42) and requires the regulatory authority to provide immediate notice after making a reviewable decision complying with QCAT Act s 157(2) (s 43). Failure to provide timely or compliant notice may give rise to grounds for review or judicial intervention depending on procedural context.
Transitional review continuity: Sections 47-48 preserve ongoing QCAT and chief executive review processes that began under the Child Care Act 2002 prior to the scheme commencement day, allowing them to continue as if the old Act had continued to apply (s 47(2)-(4); s 48(2)-(4)). Those transitional continuities could produce jurisdictional or procedural issues if parties seek to challenge the scope of QCAT’s continuing powers or the appropriateness of orders made under the old regime that must now be given effect under the National Law framework.
Interaction with Commonwealth Acts under QCAT: Because the Privacy Act 1988, FOI Act 1982 and Ombudsman Act 1976 are applied to the National Law by substituting references to Administrative Review Tribunal with references to QCAT (ss 39-41), disputes about access to documents, privacy breaches, and complaints to the Ombudsman that arise from National Law administration will be channelled through QCAT or the mechanisms the Act creates. Those procedural substitutions are important for litigation strategy over remedies and forums.
Given the absence of recorded case law in the supplied text, practitioners should search case databases and QCAT/Magistrates Court records for litigation involving the National Law as adopted in Queensland to find results applying these particular local application provisions. The Act itself does not list or cite any judicial decisions; it constrains tribunal composition and provides notice and review mechanics that will be material in litigation but does not provide any litigation precedent.
Gotchas
The Act contains multiple drafting choices and specific operational rules that can create traps for administrators, providers, central governing bodies and their officers. Below are the concrete, source‑grounded “gotchas” drawn from the operative text.
Exclusions of Queensland information/oversight Acts are broad: Section 6 excludes the Information Privacy Act 2009 and the Right to Information Act 2009 from applying to the National Law and instruments made under it (s 6(1)(b)-(c)). That means that typical Queensland‑based RTI/IP processes do not automatically apply to National Law documents, although the Act imports Commonwealth privacy and FOI Acts via QCAT (ss 39-40). Practitioners should not assume that a Queensland RTI or Information Privacy pathway will be available for National Law records unless another provision preserves it (s 50 preserves RTI/IP application to pre‑scheme Child Care Act documents). The exclusion is not absolute for all instruments: s 6(1)(d) deliberately preserves Statutory Instruments Act application for regulations in certain respects via s 303 of the National Law. Read s 6 carefully.
Notice content constraints: When the regulatory authority gives notice of disciplinary action or prohibition notices to the WWC chief executive, the initial notice must not state further details about the disciplinary action beyond the basic identity details and the fact that action occurred (s 20(3); s 21(3)). If the WWC chief executive requests more information, it must also have notified that the person holds a WWC authority or has applied for one before the regulatory authority must provide more detail (s 20(4)-(5); s 21(4)-(5)). The regulatory authority cannot provide further information unless these conditions are met; moreover, notices must not contain information identifying a particular child (s 20(7); s 21(7)). Operationally, this creates a two‑step disclosure process that depends on the WWC chief executive making a targeted request. Administrative staff must be trained to follow the limited disclosure model or risk over‑disclosure.
URL data is granular and includes identifying information: The statutory definition of URL data includes names, dates of birth and addresses for children (s 32). That data can be disclosed to the chief executive, to authorised officers of central governing bodies in specified circumstances, and to prescribed Commonwealth entities (ss 34-36). However, aggregation and non‑identifiability requirements apply when URL data is reported by the chief executive or authorised officers of CGBs (s 35(3); s 37(2)). Central governing body authorised officers must have written authority from the chief executive (s 33) and are criminally/penally exposed if they record, use or disclose URL data other than under the permitted provisions (s 37(3)). Practically, services that collect URL data must track who has authority, who received what data, and must ensure aggregation processes shield identities when reporting.
Authorisations can be revoked or transitional authorisations might be time‑limited: Section 38 preserves some pre‑scheme authorisations for authorised officers of CGBs under the old Child Care Act, but s 54 later revokes certain authorities for employees or officers of the Corporation of the Bishops (ins 2025 No. 24 s 39Z). Authorisations must be monitored and recorded; the chief executive has the power to give written authorities under s 33 and must be satisfied the person is appropriate.
Mixed accountability matrix: The Act on its face removes certain Queensland oversight regimes for National Law functions (s 6(3)) while creating or preserving QCAT jurisdiction for Commonwealth Acts (ss 39-41) and imposing obligations such as ministerial tabling of amendments (s 5). That produces a governance checklist: compliance officers cannot rely on a single oversight framework; they must track National Law channels, QCAT avenues, and Commonwealth privacy/FOI obligations.
Fit and proper protections are narrow and temporal: Sections 23 and 24 prevent an individual from being treated as not fit and proper solely because they lack a current WWC clearance if they have applied and the application is pending. This protection stops applying once the application is decided, withdrawn or lapses (s 23(3); s 24(3)). Providers hiring officers should note that pending WWC applications buy a narrow window of protection only during the application’s pendency.
Executors’ temporary immunity is circumscribed: Section 26 protects the executor of a deceased approved provider’s estate from committing certain WWC offences while operating the approved service during the “relevant period” provided they apply for a WWC clearance within that period and do not withdraw the application (s 26(2)). The protection references the National Law’s definition of the relevant period (National Law s 39(7) quoted in s 26(5)), so practitioners must check the National Law for the exact period and its limits.
QCAT member disqualifications are specific: When a review is heard by QCAT, the chairing member must not have been a departmental employee at the time the reviewable decision was made or have had approvals refused/cancelled or licences refused/revoked under specified prior Acts (s 44(2)). Where a party suspects a prohibited relationship, it is a concrete challenge ground rather than a general bias claim.
Ministerial tabling does not create a stay: The Minister’s duty to table amendments of the National Law as adopted from Victoria is a transparency obligation; section 5(3) explicitly states failing to table does not prevent the amendment from applying in Queensland. Practitioners should not rely on tabling status as evidence of whether an amendment is in effect.
Those “gotchas” are mechanical and appear verbatim or by necessary implication in the Act text. They are operational constraints that agencies, providers, CGBs and practitioners must attend to when running services, handling data, or preparing for hearings.
How to comply
This section translates the Act’s operative duties and constraints into concrete compliance actions that administrative officers, approved providers, central governing bodies, authorised officers and legal advisers should implement. All recommendations are grounded in the statutory text.
Map statutory roles and keep governance documents current
Record which office is the regulatory authority and children’s services regulator per ss 9 and 14. Ensure internal procedures identify the chief executive’s designated persons who handle National Law responsibilities.
Maintain a current register of authorisations under s 33: the chief executive may give written authority to CGB employees/officers to receive, use and disclose URL data. The register must show the written authority, its scope and dated provenance.
Establish WWC data and notification processes
For every disciplinary action, prohibition notice, or supervisor/provider approval change listed in s 20(1), ensure the regulatory authority has a standing template for the s 20(2) notice to the chief executive (employment screening) that contains the minimum permitted information (name, address, date/place of birth if known and the fact of action) and that omits further detail unless the WWC chief executive makes a targeted request and confirms WWC status (s 20(3)-(5)). Train staff to avoid over‑disclosure and to confirm date/place of birth where needed (s 20(6)).
For prohibition notices under s 21, prepare the initial minimal notice template and have workflows to provide fuller information only pursuant to a request and WWC authority/application notification (s 21(4)-(5)). Ensure the prohibition notice template excludes any information likely to identify a particular child (s 21(7)).
Document WWC‑status requests and responses
Use the statutory list in s 22(1) to identify which individuals’ WWC status can be requested (approved providers; persons with management or control; certified supervisors; educators; adult occupants of family day care residences). Create a secure, auditable process for making written requests to the chief executive (employment screening) and for recording the chief executive’s responses (dates of application, withdrawal, authority issuance, cancellations per s 22(2)).
Where the chief executive may provide information voluntarily (s 22(3)), have a policy on whether to request information or to accept unsolicited updates and how to record them in personnel files.
URL data governance
Inventory all URL data elements listed in s 32 that the service collects. Document lawful bases and consent mechanisms (if the National Law or local departmental policy requires parental consent, follow that; the Act itself sets permissible recipients and uses).
Create a chain‑of‑custody log for URL data: record when URL data is received, by whom (authorised person under s 34), and any onward disclosures to authorised officers of a CGB or to the chief executive. For disclosure to a CGB authorised officer, ensure the CGB authorised officer has written authority under s 33 , keep a copy of that written authority on file.
Implement aggregation and de‑identification controls for any reporting tasks. The Act requires that URL data reported in connection with planning and monitoring must be aggregated and not identify individuals (s 35(3); s 37(2)).
For central governing bodies: ensure authorised officers understand their permitted uses under s 37(1) and that they must not record, use or disclose URL data except as permitted; emphasise the maximum penalty in s 37(3) and build audits to detect improper use.
Data sharing to ABS/AIHW and privacy obligations
Where URL data is disclosed to prescribed Commonwealth entities under s 36, require and document contractual assurances or memoranda of understanding that the receiving prescribed entity will collect, store and use data in a way that protects privacy as required by s 36(2). Keep records of the specific data elements disclosed and the statutory purpose (meeting obligations under the early childhood data agreement).
Records and identity verification
When the chief executive (employment screening) requests further particulars (e.g. date/place of birth) under ss 20(5) or 21(5), have a procedure for confirming those particulars with the person, as s 20(6) and s 21(6) make receipt of further detail conditional on confirmation.
Maintain identity cards and issue them to authorised officers who continue from pre‑scheme appointments (s 49). Track the date of issuance as the chief executive must issue identity cards as soon as practicable after scheme commencement (s 49(3)).
External review readiness
After making a reviewable decision, the regulatory authority must give a notice complying with QCAT Act s 157(2) immediately (s 43(1)). Develop a compliant notice template and a checklist for immediate dispatch that also includes any particulars required by the National Law’s prohibition notice content if those are combined (s 43(2)-(3)).
For QCAT reviews, prepare an administrative file that documents expertise needs for tribunal composition and any potential disqualification facts among QCAT members described in s 44(2) (for example, whether any intended member is a current or former departmental officer or has had provider approvals refused).
Transitional cases and licence conversions
Use s 18 to identify any services, licencees and staff continuing under transitional declarations (declared approved family day care service, declared approved service, declared approved provider, declared certified or nominated supervisor, declared compliance notice, declared out of scope services). Ensure that administrative systems map prior licence numbers and compliance notices into the National Law labels to avoid double charging, misclassification or lost records.
Ministerial and legislative monitoring
Because s 4 adopts the National Law “as in force from time to time” and s 5 requires tabling amendments made to the Victorian schedule, the department should track those Victorian schedule amendments and confirm ministerial tabling in the Queensland Parliament and also align local operational guidance with any substantive changes.
Training, audit and policy documents
Create standard operating procedures for all the above tasks, with role assignments and audit trails. Run periodic audits of URL data access logs, WWC‑status requests and response logs, and disciplinary/prohibition notice templates and transmissions to ensure statutory compliance and to limit exposure under s 37 and for procedural fairness in reviews.
By following the concrete statutory commands in ss 20-22, 33-37, 43-49 and the mapping provisions in ss 4-10 and 14, administrative actors can align operational practice with statutory requirements. Practical compliance requires documented authorisations, chain‑of‑custody for data, templates that restrict what is said in notices, and audit trails for tribunal and transition processes.
Section sec.4Adoption of Education and Care Services National Law
sec.4 Adoption of Education and Care Services National Law
The Education and Care Services National Law, as in force from time to time, set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria—
applies as a law of this jurisdiction; and
as so applying may be referred to as the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) ; and
so applies as if it were part of this Act.
(a) applies as a law of this jurisdiction; and
(b) as so applying may be referred to as the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) ; and
(c) so applies as if it were part of this Act.
sec.5 Minister must table amendments of Education and Care Services National Law
sec.5 Minister must table amendments of Education and Care Services National Law
This section applies if the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria is amended.
The Minister must table a copy of the amendment in the Legislative Assembly.
Failure to comply with subsection (2) does not affect the application of the amendment under section 4 .
(sec.5-ssec.1) This section applies if the Education and Care Services National Law set out in the schedule to the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 of Victoria is amended.
(sec.5-ssec.2) The Minister must table a copy of the amendment in the Legislative Assembly.
(sec.5-ssec.3) Failure to comply with subsection (2) does not affect the application of the amendment under section 4 .
sec.6 Exclusion of legislation of this jurisdiction
sec.6 Exclusion of legislation of this jurisdiction
The following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) or to instruments made under the Law —
Acts Interpretation Act 1954 ;
Information Privacy Act 2009 ;
Right to Information Act 2009 ;
Statutory Instruments Act 1992 , other than to the extent provided for in section 303 of the Law .
To remove any doubt, it is declared that—
subsection (1) (a) does not limit the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 to the local application provisions of this Act; and
In section 7 , the definition public authority uses the term ‘public sector unit’. That term takes its meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 .
A reference in section 8 to the Education and Care Services Act 2013 includes a reference to a regulation in force under that Act (see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 7 ).
subsection (1) (d) does not limit the application of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 to a regulation made under the local application provisions of this Act.
The following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) or to the instruments made under the Law , except to the extent that the Law and those instruments apply to the regulatory authority and the employees, decisions, actions and records of the regulatory authority—
Auditor-General Act 2009 ;
Financial Accountability Act 2009 ;
Ombudsman Act 2001 ;
Public Records Act 2023 ;
Public Sector Act 2022 .
s 6 amd 2013 No. 39 s 110 (1) sch 3 pt 1 ; 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2 ; 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3 ; 2023 No. 33 s 107 sch 4
(sec.6-ssec.1) The following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) or to instruments made under the Law — Acts Interpretation Act 1954 ; Information Privacy Act 2009 ; Right to Information Act 2009 ; Statutory Instruments Act 1992 , other than to the extent provided for in section 303 of the Law .
(sec.6-ssec.2) To remove any doubt, it is declared that— subsection (1) (a) does not limit the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 to the local application provisions of this Act; and In section 7 , the definition public authority uses the term ‘public sector unit’. That term takes its meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 . A reference in section 8 to the Education and Care Services Act 2013 includes a reference to a regulation in force under that Act (see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 7 ). subsection (1) (d) does not limit the application of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 to a regulation made under the local application provisions of this Act.
(sec.6-ssec.3) The following Acts of this jurisdiction do not apply to the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) or to the instruments made under the Law , except to the extent that the Law and those instruments apply to the regulatory authority and the employees, decisions, actions and records of the regulatory authority— Auditor-General Act 2009 ; Financial Accountability Act 2009 ; Ombudsman Act 2001 ; Public Records Act 2023 ; Public Sector Act 2022 .
(a) Acts Interpretation Act 1954 ;
(b) Information Privacy Act 2009 ;
(c) Right to Information Act 2009 ;
(d) Statutory Instruments Act 1992 , other than to the extent provided for in section 303 of the Law .
(a) subsection (1) (a) does not limit the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 to the local application provisions of this Act; and Examples— 1 In section 7 , the definition public authority uses the term ‘public sector unit’. That term takes its meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 . 2 A reference in section 8 to the Education and Care Services Act 2013 includes a reference to a regulation in force under that Act (see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 7 ).
1 In section 7 , the definition public authority uses the term ‘public sector unit’. That term takes its meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 .
2 A reference in section 8 to the Education and Care Services Act 2013 includes a reference to a regulation in force under that Act (see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 7 ).
(b) subsection (1) (d) does not limit the application of the Statutory Instruments Act 1992 to a regulation made under the local application provisions of this Act.
1 In section 7 , the definition public authority uses the term ‘public sector unit’. That term takes its meaning from the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 .
2 A reference in section 8 to the Education and Care Services Act 2013 includes a reference to a regulation in force under that Act (see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 7 ).
(a) Auditor-General Act 2009 ;
(b) Financial Accountability Act 2009 ;
(c) Ombudsman Act 2001 ;
(d) Public Records Act 2023 ;
(e) Public Sector Act 2022 .
sec.7 Meaning of generic terms in Education and Care Services National Law for the purposes of this jurisdiction
sec.7 Meaning of generic terms in Education and Care Services National Law for the purposes of this jurisdiction
In the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) —
child protection law means the Child Protection Act 1999 .
de facto relationship see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 .
local authority means a local government.
magistrate means a magistrate appointed under the Magistrates Act 1991 .
public authority means a public sector unit.
superior court means the Supreme Court of Queensland.
this jurisdiction means Queensland.
s 7 amd 2013 No. 39 s 110 (1) sch 3 pt 1
sec.8 Children’s services law
sec.8 Children’s services law
The Education and Care Services Act 2013 is declared to be a children’s services law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition children’s services law .
s 8 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2
sec.9 Children’s services regulator
sec.9 Children’s services regulator
The chief executive of the department in which the Education and Care Services Act 2013 is administered is declared to be the children’s services regulator for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition children’s services regulator .
s 9 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2
sec.10 Education law
sec.10 Education law
Each of the following Acts is declared to be an education law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) —
Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017 ;
Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 ;
Education (Overseas Students) Act 1996 ;
Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 ;
the repealed Higher Education (General Provisions) Act 2008 .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition education law .
s 10 amd 2014 No. 25 s 223 s ch 1 pt 2 ; 2017 No. 24 s 212
(a) Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2017 ;
(b) Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 ;
(c) Education (Overseas Students) Act 1996 ;
(d) Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 ;
(e) the repealed Higher Education (General Provisions) Act 2008 .
sec.11 Former education and care services law
sec.11 Former education and care services law
Each of the following is declared to be a former education and care services law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) —
the Child Care Act 2002 as in force before its repeal;
the Child Care Act 1991 as in force before its repeal.
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition former education and care services law .
s 11 amd 2013 No. 44 s 269 sch 1 pt 2
(a) the Child Care Act 2002 as in force before its repeal;
(b) the Child Care Act 1991 as in force before its repeal.
sec.12 Infringements law
sec.12 Infringements law
The State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999 is declared to be an infringements law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition infringements law .
sec.13 Public sector law
sec.13 Public sector law
The Public Sector Act 2022 is declared to be a public sector law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition public sector law .
s 13 amd 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3
sec.14 Regulatory authority
sec.14 Regulatory authority
The chief executive is declared to be the regulatory authority for this jurisdiction.
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition regulatory authority .
sec.15 Relevant tribunal or court
sec.15 Relevant tribunal or court
The magistrates court is declared to be the relevant tribunal or court for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 181 .
QCAT is declared to be the relevant tribunal or court for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , part 8 .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition relevant tribunal or court .
(sec.15-ssec.1) The magistrates court is declared to be the relevant tribunal or court for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 181 .
(sec.15-ssec.2) QCAT is declared to be the relevant tribunal or court for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , part 8 . See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition relevant tribunal or court .
sec.16 Working with children law
sec.16 Working with children law
The Working with Children Check Act 2000 is declared to be a working with children law for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) .
See the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , section 5 (1) , definition working with children law .
s 16 amd 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1 ; 2024 No. 49 s 130 s ch 4 pt 1
sec.17 Penalty at end of provision
sec.17 Penalty at end of provision
In the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) , a penalty stated at the end of a provision indicates that a contravention of the provision is punishable on conviction by a penalty not more than the stated penalty.
sec.18 Transitional matters
sec.18 Transitional matters
For the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law (Queensland) —
a licensed home based service under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a service provided only from 1 home, is declared to be a declared approved family day care service; and
a licensed centre based service under the Child Care Act 2002 , other than a child care service to which
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