Educator-to-child ratios and qualifications for centre-based care

May 2023

Educator-to-child ratios and qualifications for centre-based care

View factsheet

This fact sheet outlines the minimum educator qualification and ratio requirements in centre-based long day care. Approved providers, services, nominated supervisors and educators must ensure children are adequately supervised  at all times (s164 National Law SA), and that the needs of each individual child are taken into consideration.  

Educator-to-child ratios

Centre-based services in South Australia must maintain the following educator-to-child ratios (r 123):

Early childhood teachers are included in the educator-to-child ratio, provided they are working directly with children (r123(3)).

To be included in the educator-to-child ratio educators must be working directly with children (r. 122). A person is working directly with children at a given time if at that time the person:

• is physically present with the children; and
• is directly engaged in providing education and care to the children (r 13).

Determining minimum educator to child ratios 

To calculate the minimum educator-to-child staffing ratios and qualifications required at a service:

1. Determine the educator-to-child ratio staffing ratios for each age group
2. Calculate the total number of educators required to meet the educator-to-child ratio
3. Determine the qualifications of educators:
   • At least 50% of this total number of educators must have, or be actively working towards, a diploma-level education and care qualification
   • The remaining 50% of educators must have, or be actively working towards, a certificate III-level education and care qualification.

ACECQA provides an educator-to-child ratio calculator you can use to assist with planning ratios in centre-based education and care.

Staffing ratios for mixed age groups of children

When the children being educated and cared for at the service are from a mix of the four age groups set out in r123(1), services may consider children in older age groups as part of the ratios for children in younger age groups.

Educator qualifications 

At least 50% of the educators who are required to meet the educator-to-child ratios for the service must have, or be actively working towards, at least an approved diploma-level education and care qualification.

All other educators required to meet the educator-to-child ratios must have, or be actively working towards, at least an approved certificate III-level education and care qualification. (r. 126(1)(a))

Information sheet: Educators who are ‘actively working towards’ a qualification (April 2023)

Working towards approved certificate III-level qualification (r10)

Educators are ‘actively working towards’ at least an approved certificate III-level qualification if they:

• are enrolled in a course for an approved certificate III, diploma or early childhood teaching qualification, and
• give the approved provider documentary evidence such as a transcript or letter from the course provider that they:
  • have commenced the course, and
  • are making satisfactory progress towards completing the course, and
  • are meeting the requirements for maintaining the enrolment.

Working towards approved diploma-level qualification (r10)

An educator is ‘actively working towards’ an approved diploma-level qualification if they:

• are enrolled in a course for an approved diploma level or early childhood teaching qualification, and
• give the approved provider documentary evidence such as a transcript or letter from the course provider that they:
  • have started the course, and
  • are making satisfactory progress towards completing the course, and
  • Are meeting the requirements for maintaining the enrolment, and
    • hold an approved certificate III-level education and care qualification, or
    • have completed the percentage of total units of study required for completion of an approved early childhood teaching qualification, as determined by ACECQA (30% or more of the total units required).

Taken to be an early childhood teacher (r242)

An educator is taken to be an early childhood teacher if they:

• are enrolled in a course for an approved early childhood teaching qualification, and
• give the approved provider documentary evidence such as a transcript or letter from the course provider that they:
  • have started the course, and
  • are making satisfactory progress towards completing the course, and
  • are meeting the requirements for maintaining the enrolment, and
  • hold an approved diploma level educator qualification or
  • have completed at least 50 percent of the course.

Regulation 242 expires in South Australia on 31 December 2024.

ACECQA has determined that until 31 December 2024, a person is recognised as equivalent to an early childhood teacher if they hold all three of the following:

• a primary or secondary teaching qualification; and
• teacher registration in South Australia; and
• an ACECQA approved certificate III level or higher education and care qualification.

Educator qualifications in  remote and very remote centre-based services

Until 31 December 2024, an educator at a centre-based service in a remote or very remote area of South Australia can be included in the relevant educator-to-child ratio for the service without having, or actively working towards, a certificate III level education and care qualification if:

• the educator has been continuously employed as an educator in an education and care service or children’s service for a period of at least 15 years up to immediately before 1 January 2012
• are employed by the same approved provider as they were employed by immediately before 1 January 2012.

(r 240 National Regulations).

This factsheet is intended as a guide to support voluntary compliance with the National Law SA and Regulations. Approved providers and services are responsible to understand and comply with their obligations under the National Law SA and National Regulations.  

References

Education and Care Services National Law (South Australia)

Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011