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Open an early childhood education and care service

Find out how to apply to become an approved provider or open a service in the ACT.

If you want to open an approved early childhood education and care service in the ACT, you need to:

  1. become an approved provider
  2. apply to open a service in the ACT.

What is an education and care service

An early childhood education and care service provides education and care on a regular basis to children under the age of 13 years.

Services that meet this definition must operate under the National Quality Framework.

Types of services include:

  • preschools
  • long day care
  • family day care
  • outside school hours care
  • school holiday care programs.

Providers must be approved to operate a service and charge fees in the ACT.

Provider and service approvals in the ACT are granted by Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA).

1

Become an approved provider

Who can apply

You can apply as an:

  • individual
  • company, incorporated association or partnership.

You must have an ABN and your principal office must be in the ACT.

People managing the service must show they're a fit and proper person. Check the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) website for guidance on how you're assessed as a fit and proper person.

ACECQA also has information about the operating requirements for your service type.

Before you apply

Before you apply, understand your obligations.

How to apply

Visit the ACECQA website to apply to become an approved provider.

You can also download all the forms you’ll need for your application.

You can also apply to get Child Care Subsidy payments. The Child Care Subsidy is paid to approved providers to pass on to families as a fee reduction.

Family day care services who employ 2 or more educators must also apply for approval.

CECA must decide your application within 60 days, unless extended by agreement.

After you apply

You may need to provide additional information to support your application.

Once we get all the required documentation, we'll send you an email about completing the online test.

To prepare for the online test, you can do ACECQA's National Law & Child Care Subsidy Approval Course.

This course is designed to help you understand your responsibilities as an approved provider.

If you pass the online test, we'll invite you to complete an interview with CECA.

You'll get written notice from us about the outcome of your application.

2

Apply for service approval

Who can apply

If you're applying to manage a service, you must show you're a fit and proper person.

Check the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) website for guidance on how you're assessed as a fit and proper person.

Once you’re an approved provider you can apply to open one or more services in the ACT.

Before you apply

You'll need to meet building and outdoor space requirements.

In the ACT, buildings for early childhood education and care services must:

  • meet certain regulations
  • be leased to operate as an early childhood education and care service.

You must meet the building design requirements and standards set out in the:

You must also follow the ACT guidelines:

Check if you're meeting space requirements by using our physical audit template [DOCX 107 KB].

If your proposed premises is in a multi-storey building, you must hold approval in principle. Contact us before you apply for service approval.

Read the ACT approval in principle fact sheet [PDF 217 KB].

How to apply

Visit the ACECQA website to apply to open a new service.

CECA must decide your application within 90 days, unless extended by agreement.

Contact us

Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA)

Email
CECA@act.gov.au