“Centre director” is a job title, not a role defined in the National Law, so no qualification is set for “director” itself. What applies depends on the legal roles the director holds. Most directors are the service’s nominated supervisor: at least 18, with adequate knowledge of education and care and the ability to supervise and manage a service, with their compliance history considered, and with written consent to the nomination (s 161, s 161A, r 117C). Most also act as a responsible person on the floor (s 162). All must complete the child protection and child safety training required since 2026 (ss 162A, 162B; r 128B to 128E). A company director of the approved provider is a different thing: a person with management or control, who must be fit and proper (ss 5A, 12).
What the law actually requires of a childcare centre director, role by role: nominated supervisor, responsible person, educational leader and, for company directors, person with management or control.
| Legal role | Requirement | Source | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominated supervisor | At least one per service. At least 18, with adequate knowledge and understanding of education and care, and the ability to supervise and manage a service. The approved provider must have regard to the person’s compliance history. Written consent to the nomination, which is notified to the regulator. Name displayed at the service | s 161, s 161A; r 117C; r 35; r 173 | Nominated supervisor |
| Responsible person | Someone eligible must be present at all times a centre-based service is caring for children: the approved provider (if an individual), a person with management or control, a nominated supervisor, or a person in day-to-day charge (who must consent in writing and be at least 18) | s 162; r 117A, 117B | Responsible person |
| Educational leader (often a different person) | A suitably qualified and experienced educator, co-ordinator or other individual designated to lead the educational program | r 118 | Educational leader |
| Person with management or control (company directors, committee members, area managers) | Fit and proper, and children’s safety the paramount consideration. Appointment or removal notified to the regulator | s 5A, s 12, s 173 | Person with management or control |
A centre director is usually an employee of the approved provider. If they also sit on the provider’s board or committee, they are a person with management or control as well, and the fit and proper requirements apply.
The National Law and Regulations prescribe no qualification for a nominated supervisor or for a “director”. The test in regulation 117C is adequate knowledge and the ability to supervise and manage. In practice, many directors hold an approved diploma or early childhood teaching qualification, and the director often counts toward the qualification rules when working in ratio. Those rules apply to the director as an educator, not because of the title: see childcare educator qualifications and early childhood teacher requirements. Employers and funded programs may set their own qualification requirements.
None are prescribed for the title. Most directors are the nominated supervisor, who must be at least 18, have adequate knowledge of education and care and the ability to supervise and manage a service (regulation 117C), and complete the required child protection and child safety training.
Often, but not necessarily. 'Director' is a job title; the nominated supervisor is the legal role under section 161 of the National Law. A service can nominate more than one person.
Yes. Nominated supervisors and persons in day-to-day charge must complete the jurisdiction's child protection training under section 162A, and child safety training applies under section 162B.
Yes, an officer of a body corporate is a person with management or control under section 5A of the National Law, and must be fit and proper.
WIDEN Law answers National Quality Framework questions with inline citations to the National Law, the Regulations and the NQS, so you can check the source provision yourself.
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