You will need this approval to operate early education and care services, such as a family day care or centre-based service, for children under 13 years of age.
If your service also cares for children over 13 years of age, it can still be classified as an education and care service, but only if it also provides care for children under 13 years. In this case, the service may provide care for children up to (and including) 17 years of age.
Family day care is an approved form of child care provided in an educator's home.
A centre-based service is an education and care service delivered at a centre and can include:
- most long day care
- preschool
- outside school hours care services.
Your provider approval will enable you to apply for one or more service approvals. A service approval authorises you (an approved provider) to operate an education and care service.
This approval is nationally recognised, which means that you will not need to apply for a provider approval in each jurisdiction in which you intend to operate an education and care service.
