No. Under the Education and Care Services National Laws and Regulations: The requirement for an authorised person applies to collection (pick‑up), not drop‑off. Services may choose to extend this requirement to drop-off as part of their own service policy, but it is not mandated by law.
National Law & ACECQA Guidance
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Regulation 99 – Children leaving the premises A child can only leave the service with a parent, authorised nominee, or authorised person. This is about pickup.
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Acceptance and Refusal of Authorisations (ACECQA) Authorisations are required for:
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Collection of children
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Excursions and transport
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Administration of medication or medical treatment
Drop‑off is not listed as requiring authorisation.
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Regulation 168 – Policies and procedures: Services must have policies on acceptance/refusal of authorisations. These policies can go beyond minimum legal requirements, meaning a director may enforce stricter rules (e.g., requiring authorised persons for drop-off).
Practical Implications for Educators
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Pick‑up → Must be by an authorised person.
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Drop‑off → No legal requirement, but services may enforce it locally.
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Best practice → Record who dropped off the child (e.g., “Dropped off by uncle”) for transparency and safeguarding.
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Communication → Families should be clearly informed of the difference between national requirements and service‑specific policies.
Quick Reference Table
| Aspect | National Law Requirement | Service Policy (Optional) |
|---|---|---|
| Pick‑up | Must be by parent/authorised nominee/person listed | Mandatory |
| Drop‑off | No requirement in law/regulations | May be enforced by service |
| Excursions/Transport | Written authorisation required | Mandatory |
| Medication/Medical Treatment | Written authorisation required | Mandatory |
Further Reading
References:
Acceptance And Refusal of Authorisations
EYLF & NQS Discussion, Support & Ideas Australia
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