QUEENSLAND
OVERVIEW
In Queensland (Qld.), 'Kindergarten' and 'Pre-Preparatory' are the terms used for the educational programs provided to children in the year before full-time schooling (i.e. Year 1 minus 2 years) which is referred to within this manual as 'preschool'. 'Preparatory' or 'Prep' are the terms used for a child’s first year of full-time school (i.e. pre-Year 1 year). Children in Qld. are eligible to enrol in a funded preschool program if they are at least 4 years of age prior to 30 June of that year.
LEGISLATION AND LICENSING
The Qld. Department of Education, Training and Employment (Qld. DETE) is responsible for the approval of licensing and monitoring of early childhood services under the Education and Care Services National Law 2011 (Qld.) and Child Care Act 2002 (Qld.). All non-government services offering approved preschool programs are approved under the national law. In addition, Qld. DETE provides funding to service providers approved under the Qld. Kindergarten Funding Scheme (QKFS) to support the delivery of preschool programs. In addition, a small number of DETE early childhood education programs known as pre-Prep are administered under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Queensland). Approved service providers include all government managed providers and all non-government managed providers that meet the approval requirements.
Prior to 2012, qualification requirements to work in early childhood education were attached to specific educator roles including director, early childhood teacher, group leader, assistant, family day care educator or outside school hours care coordinator. From 1 January 2012 these requirements changed for the majority of services as per the National Quality Framework. A list of national approved qualifications is available on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
Further information on the Framework can be found on the DEEWR website: <http://www.deewr.gov.au/earlychildhood/policy_agenda/quality/pages/home.aspx>.
SECTOR DESCRIPTIONS
Preschool
Service providers in Qld. that offer a preschool program as their main type of activity have the following management arrangements.
Government Managed
There are a small number of government managed schools that provide preschool programs in Qld. under the Bound for Success pre-Prep program, which operates in Indigenous communities. This program is offered in very remote communities where there are little or no early childhood education and care infrastructure. These programs are provided by Qld. DETE under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld.).
Non-government Managed
Community managed: Community managed preschools include those managed by parents, a church or a cooperative, where the main service activity type is preschool.
Private for-profit: Private for-profit preschools are approved stand-alone preschools provided by for-profit corporations or entities, where the main service activity type is preschool.
Private not-for-profit: Private not-for-profit preschools are approved stand-alone preschools provided by not-for-profit organisations or entities, where the main service activity type is preschool.
Independent schools: Independent schools are services providing approved preschool programs in registered non-government schools.
Catholic schools: Catholic schools are services providing approved preschool programs in registered Catholic schools.
Other (TAFE, university, corporate): Other management types include approved preschool programs delivered in educational facilities (for example TAFE or universities) or in corporate settings (for example preschools provided for employees of an organisation), where the main service activity type is preschool.
Long Day Care
Service providers in Qld. that offer a LDC as their main type of activity and may also offer and deliver a preschool program have the following management arrangements.
Long Day Care with a Preschool Program
Private for-profit: Private for-profit LDCs are approved centre-based integrated services provided by for-profit corporations or entities, where the main service activity type is not preschool but a preschool program is delivered by the service provider.
Private not-for-profit: Private not-for-profit LDCs are approved centre-based integrated services provided by not-for-profit corporations or entities, where the main service activity type is not preschool but a preschool program is delivered by the service provider.
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