The National Regulations require the policies listed in regulation 168 but do not set a fixed review cycle for most of them. They do set some fixed cycles: the QIP at least annually (r 56), the sleep and rest risk assessment at least every 12 months (r 84C), emergency rehearsals every 3 months (r 97), regular outing and transport authorisations every 12 months (r 102, r 102D), and family day care residence assessments at least annually (r 116). Parents must get 14 days’ notice of significant policy changes and of any fee change (r 172). Most services review every policy at least annually and straight away after an incident or a change in the law.
The review cycles the law sets, the events that should trigger a review, and a suggested 12-month schedule covering every regulation 168 policy.
| Item | How often | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Quality improvement plan | Review and revise at least annually, and when the regulator directs | r 56 |
| Sleep and rest risk assessment | At least every 12 months, and as soon as practicable after any change that may affect children’s safety during sleep | r 84C |
| Emergency and evacuation rehearsal (centre-based) | Every 3 months | r 97(3) |
| Regular outing authorisation | Once every 12 months | r 102(5) |
| Regular transport risk assessment and authorisation | Every 12 months | r 102B(4), r 102D(5) |
| Family day care residence and venue assessment | At least annually | r 116(1B) |
| Foundation and advanced child safety training | Every 2 years | s 162B; see child protection requirements |
First aid, anaphylaxis and asthma qualifications and working with children checks also expire on their own cycles; track them in the staff record. See first aid requirements and working with children checks.
This schedule spreads the regulation 168 policies across the year so each is reviewed annually without overloading one month. Adjust it to your rating visit timing and your own risks.
| Month | Policies to review |
|---|---|
| January | Enrolment and orientation; payment of fees; acceptance and refusal of authorisations |
| February | Child safe environment; digital technologies; interactions with children |
| March | Health and safety: nutrition, food and beverages; sun protection |
| April | Sleep and rest (with the r 84C risk assessment); water safety |
| May | Incident, injury, trauma and illness; dealing with infectious diseases |
| June | Medical conditions; administration of first aid |
| July | Emergency and evacuation; delivery and collection of children; safe arrival |
| August | Excursions; transport (if provided) |
| September | Staffing, including the code of conduct, the responsible person, and volunteers and students |
| October | Governance and management, including confidentiality of records |
| November | Dealing with complaints |
| December | QIP annual review; check the schedule against any law changes in the year |
Use the compliance calendar to set reminders, and see each policy guide from our regulation 168 guide.
The National Regulations do not set a single cycle for regulation 168 policies, but annual review plus immediate review after incidents or law changes is common practice. Some items have fixed cycles, such as the QIP (at least annually) and the sleep and rest risk assessment (at least every 12 months).
Yes. Regulation 172 requires at least 14 days' notice before a change that may significantly affect a child's care or the family's ability to use the service, and before any change to fees or how they are collected.
At least annually, and whenever the regulatory authority directs (regulation 56).
Every 3 months for centre-based services, with the staff, volunteers and children present that day (regulation 97(3)).
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.
14-day free trial, no card →This page is a research summary, not legal or compliance advice. It is written in our own words from the sources linked on the page; confirm the position with your regulatory authority before relying on it for a compliance decision.