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Step 1: Registration

Registration and participation requirements are specified in the Child Care Benefit (Eligibility of Child Care Services for Approval and Continued Approval) Amendment Determination 2001 made under the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Administration Act 1999.

Applications for Child Care Benefit funding should be made to the state or territory office of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

Page Contents:

• New Registration
• Change of Registration
• Changes to the administration, management or operation of a service
• Registration Fees and Charges
• NCAC Contact Details
• Other Steps in Quality Assurance

New Registration

A new registration with NCAC includes a brand new service wishing to participate in Child Care Quality Assurance or an existing service registered with NCAC that is going through change of ownership, sponsorship, operator, business structure or legal entity.

Services are advised to read the Support Documents and Quality Companions for their service type. These provide information on the five steps of Child Care Quality Assurance, information about the Accreditation Decision and technical information about the Accreditation Decision process.

• Support Documents and Quality Companions

Services wishing to register with NCAC to participate in Child Care Quality Assurance or are going through a change of ownership, sponsorship, operator, business structure or legal entity should complete the New Registration Form for the appropriate service type. These are available from the link below or by telephoning 1300 136 554.

• Forms

When registering a service with NCAC, the name of the service and owner/sponsor/operator details should be written exactly as provided to the Australian Government in the service's application for Child Care Benefit.

A non-refundable Registration Fee must be paid and forwarded along with the New Registration Form (see Registration fees and other charges).

NCAC will provide a Receipt for Registration which the service should forward along with its Child Care Benefit application to the State or Territory office of DEEWR.

NCAC will also provide the service with a Certificate of Registration for display.

Services registering with NCAC for the first time will receive a Registration Kit along with their Certificate of Registration. The Kit includes publications which outline the steps involved in meeting the requirements of CCQA.

Following Step 1: Registration, the service undertakes Step 2: Self-study and Continuing Improvement which involves reflection on and a review of its care practices and policies. Step 2 will involve management, staff, carers, families and where appropriate, children in care. The service is required to submit a Self-Study Report, provided in the Registration Kit, to NCAC 18 months from the date of the service's initial registration with NCAC - not from the operational date of the service.

In addition to the Initial Registration Fee, an Annual Registration Fee is payable to help cover part of the cost of the service's participation in CCQA (see Registration fees and other charges). Tax Invoices for the current financial year are forwarded to services in July each year.

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Change of Registration

A change of Registration with NCAC occurs when services amalgamate. NCAC must be advised of all such changes.

If a new application for Child Care Benefit approval is made, the service must notify DEEWR of such changes before contacting NCAC.

A Change of Registration Form should be completed and returned to NCAC including payment as soon as possible. These are available from the Resources page or by telephoning 1300 136 554.

A non-refundable administration fee of $132.75 is payable by the new owner/sponsor/operator to transfer the service registration with NCAC.

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Changes to the administration, management or operation of a service

NCAC must be advised in writing, of any changes to the administration, management or operation of a service. This includes changes in management personnel, change of contact details, or impending closure/relocation of the service.

Please complete a CCQA Update of Service Registration Details Form to notify NCAC of such changes.

If the service uses a management company to oversee the running of the service, NCAC should be advised by completing a CCQA Confirmation of Service Management Form.

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Registration Fees and Charges

All fees and charges payable to NCAC are non-refundable.

The New Service Registration Fee may be made by cheque or money order. Please do not send cash.

Personal/business cheque or money orders should be made payable to National Childcare Accreditation Council and posted to NCAC. Please refer to NCAC contact details.

The Annual Registration Fee may be paid by cheque, money order, BPay or credit card. Details for payment by BPay and credit card will be listed on the service's Annual Registration Fee Tax Invoice.

The links below outline the Registration Fees and other charges for the financial year 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009. Tax Invoices for the current financial year are forwarded to services in July each year.

• Family Day Care Services
• Long Day Care Services
• Outside School Hours Care Services

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NCAC Contact Details

The NCAC office is open during normal business hours - Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm (NSW time). The office will be closed on public holidays in NSW.

• Address: Level 3, 418a Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
• Telephone: (02) 8260 1900 or 1300 136 554 (for callers outside Sydney)
• Facsimile: (02) 8260 1901
• E-mail: qualitycare@ncac.gov.au
• Telephone Translating Service for calls in languages other than English: 131 450
• National Relay Service for hearing or speech impaired callers: 131 677

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Other Steps in Child Care Quality Assurance:

• Step 1: Registration
• Step 2: Self-study and Continuing Improvement
• Step 3: Validation
• Step 4: Moderation
• Step 5: Accreditation Decision
• Review of an Accreditation Decision