Extension Of Workforce Transitional Provisions To 31 December 2026

Education Ministers have agreed to extend workforce transitional arrangements in the National Regulations. This decision aims to assist the sector to address workforce challenges by continuing to provide flexibility for services and providers.

The following workforce transitional provisions due to expire on 31 December 2024 will be extended to 31 December 2026:

• Regulation 239 - Regarding attendance of early childhood teachers at centre-based services in remote and very remote areas

(2)  The centre-based service may meet the requirements of regulation 132(1) or 272(1A) for attendance of an early childhood teacher if the service has access to an early childhood teacher working with the service at least 20 per cent of the time that the service provides education and care.

(2A) The centre-based service may meet the requirements of regulation 133(1) or 134(1) for attendance of an early childhood teacher if—

(a)  the service has access to an early childhood teacher working with the service at least 40 per cent of the time that the service provides education and care; or

(b)  the service has access to—

(i)  an early childhood teacher working with the service at least 20 per cent of the time that the service provides education and care; and

(ii)  a second early childhood teacher or a suitably qualified person working with the service at least 20 per cent of the time that the service provides education and care.

• Regulation 242 – Qualification requirements for people to be ‘taken to be an early childhood teacher’

(1)  A relevant regulation applies to an education and care service as if a reference in regulations 130 to 134 to an early childhood teacher included a reference to a person who—

(a)  is actively working towards an approved early childhood teaching qualification; and

(b)  provides the approved provider with documentary evidence that—

(i)  the person has completed at least 50 per cent of the course; or

(ii)  holds an approved diploma level education and care qualification.

Regulation 242 does not apply if you are working in a centre-based service educating and caring for 30 or more children preschool age or under in NSW.

The extension of workforce transitional provisions aims to support the availability of qualified educators to maintain current quality safeguards for children’s education and care.

For more information: Extension Of Workforce Transitional Provisions