Recently, the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW met with the NSW Department of Education to discuss the plans of the NSW Coalition Government with respect to out-of-school-hours-care (OSHC) services in 2021.
It is ACA NSW's understanding that the NSW Department of Education has listened to the concerns of the sector that requiring the same 3.25 m2 of unencumbered indoor space on OSHC providers just like long daycare service providers is simply wrong, especially when schools do not follow that standard.
Even though the Review of the National Quality Framework (NQF) has not yet concluded, ACA NSW is encouraged that the NSW Department appears to be implementing a new requirement of 2 m2 of unencumbered indoor space on a case-by-case and waiver basis upon application. We thank the NSW Department of Education to introduce this well in advance of the conclusion of the NQF Review.
ACA NSW also understands that the tender application process has now been standardised so that there is a more level playing field for competitors. This process will be explained through webinars conducted by the NSW Department of Education in November 2019 with dates to be announced in their EC Extra.
PUBLISHED: 12 NOVEMBER 2019