For 2021, the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW has updated and expanded its Quickies series of short but to the point presentations that help existing and new providers.

The ACA NSW Quickies are only 2 hours or less and held throughout the year in face-to-face, live webinar and video-on-demand formats. They are for Approved Providers, Owners, Directors and Nominated Supervisors with industry-specific information, advice, tips and even “tricks”.

The topics to be covered in the ACA NSW Quickies – How To Always Be Prepared For A Spotcheck/Compliance Visit are:

• What are the top 10 breaches/non-compliances that Authorised Officers look for?
• How can Approved Providers appropriately challenge allegations of breaches/non-compliances?
• What type of breaches/non-compliances will attract fines?
• How must staff engage with Authorised Officers during a spotcheck/compliance visit?
• What must staff do (away from the Authorised Officers) during a spotcheck/compliance visit?
• How can approved providers use a spotcheck/compliance visit to reinforce a Meeting or Exceeding rating at their next Assessment and Rating?

Part of the quality framework expected of all early childhood education and care services in NSW are the unscheduled spotchecks/compliance visits by Authorised Officers of the NSW Department of Education Early Childhood Directorate.

In addition to ensuring children are being cared for in safe environments, it is useful to know what else Authorised Officers will look for during these visits. Their reporting of (alleged) breaches by services is meant to be transparent and fair, but services are sometimes unclear whether this has occurred. Ideally approved providers will be able to anticipate issues well before these spotchecks/compliance visits, so that Authorised Officers will help to reinforce Meeting or Exceeding ratings at the service’s next Assessment & Rating.

This ACA NSW Quickies session is designed for Approved Providers and their staff who want to be prepared for any spotchecks/compliance visits, and better manage and influence the outcomes of allegations of breaches/non-compliances.

Alignment with National Quality Standards:

• 1.1 – Program
• 2.2 – Safety
• 3.1 – Design
• 3.2 – Use
• 4.1 – Staffing
• 7.1 – Governance
• 7.2 – Leadership

The 2021 sessions are as follows:

• Wednesday, 3 March 2021, from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm via live-webinar
• Wednesday, 12 May 2021. from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm via live-webinar
• Friday, 6 August 2021, from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm in Parramatta (Sydney, NSW) and via live-webinar

Ticket Prices (not including EventBrite fees)

• ACA NSW Members: $100 inc GST per person
• Non-Members: $170 inc GST per person (or $150 inc GST per person for early birds up to 8 weeks prior)

Other Benefits:

• Live and interactive for all participants (face-to-face and on-line)
• Video recording sent post-session with access to expire 3 months after
• Handouts distributed before the start of the presentation
• Certificate of Participation sent post-session (with references to relevant Quality Areas)