| Age of child | Ratio | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to 24 months | 1 : 4 | 123(1)(a) |
| Over 24 months to 36 months | 1 : 5 | 123(1)(b) |
| Over 36 months to preschool age | 1 : 11 | 123(1)(c) |
| Over preschool age | 1 : 15 | 123(1)(d) |
State settings that differ: NSW 1:10 from 36 months to under 6 years (Reg 271); Victoria 1:4 for children over 24 and under 36 months (Reg 357); Tasmania 1:10 from 36 months to preschool age, or 2 educators per 25 children attending a preschool program (Reg 342); ACT 1:11 over preschool age (Reg 260); WA over preschool age by the table in Reg 369 (1 educator up to 10 children, 2 up to 26, then 1 more per 13; 1 per 10 if a preschool-age child attends). WA, NT, Queensland and SA otherwise use the national figures. Only educators working directly with children count (Regulation 122). Full table in the state-by-state section. Work out your own rooms with the free ratio calculator, room by room and under the roof.
Last reviewed: 24 October 2026
The minimum educator-to-child ratios for Australian centre-based education and care services are set under Regulation 123 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011, with the qualifying rule on who counts in Regulation 122. This page summarises the current national ratios, the jurisdictional variations, and the rules that operators most often get wrong at Assessment and Rating.
The ratios below are the national settings. Several states have stricter requirements for specific age bands. Always verify the applicable rule for your jurisdiction — WIDEN Law retrieves the relevant section of the National Regulations with a clickable source link, including state-specific provisions in Chapter 7 (Parts 7.5 to 7.11).
| Age of child | Minimum ratio | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Birth – 24 months | 1 educator : 4 children | Reg 123(1)(a) |
| 24 months – 36 months | 1 educator : 5 children | Reg 123(1)(b) |
| 36 months – preschool age | 1 educator : 11 children | Reg 123(1)(c) |
| Over preschool age | 1 educator : 15 children | Reg 123(1)(d) |
These ratios apply at all times during which the service is educating and caring for children. The total minimum number of educators is calculated by reference to all children in attendance, not just the children in each room.
An educator counts toward the ratio only when they are working directly with children at the service. This is the rule in Regulation 122. An educator who is:
...does not count. The regulator's view, consistent with the National Law's child-safety principle, is that ratio compliance is about active direct supervision, not headcount.
A short absence of an educator (up to 5 minutes) does not breach the ratio if specific conditions are met, including that the absence is not on a rest pause and no other counted educator is simultaneously absent. The detail of this provision is set out in Regulation 299H (introduced for NSW services and applied progressively). Operators relying on this provision should verify the current scope in their jurisdiction.
Where children of different ages are being educated and cared for together, the minimum number of educators must meet the ratio requirements for all children at all times. In practice this means calculating the required educators for each age band separately and rounding up.
For example, a room with 3 children aged 18 months and 4 children aged 30 months requires:
The mistake is treating "7 children, room ratio 1:5" as needing 2 educators (correct) but assuming any 2 educators is enough. If one of those 2 is on break, the room is non-compliant for the duration. Plan for breaks before Assessment and Rating, not during.
Several states have either stricter ratios for specific bands or transitional arrangements that no longer apply. The most common variations to verify for your jurisdiction:
The fastest way to confirm the current rule for your jurisdiction is to ask WIDEN Law — it retrieves the relevant Chapter 7 provision with an inline citation and a source link, so you can verify in the original PDF.
The national figures apply in every state and territory except where Chapter 7 of the National Regulations sets a different figure for that jurisdiction. The table and notes below give each jurisdiction’s own settings. Sources: National Regulations r 123; ACECQA educator-to-child ratios; the state regulators. Checked 24 October 2026. Confirm with your regulatory authority before rostering. For a worked number for your own rooms, use the ratio calculator, which applies these figures.
| Jurisdiction | Birth to 24 months | Over 24 to under 36 months | 36 months to preschool age | Over preschool age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | 1:4 | 1:5 | 1:11 | 1:11 (Reg 260) |
| NSW | 1:4 | 1:5 | 1:10 (Reg 271) | 1:15 |
| NT | 1:4 | 1:5 | 1:11 | 1:15 |
| QLD | 1:4 | 1:5 | 1:11 | 1:15 |
| SA | 1:4 | 1:5 | 1:11 | 1:15 |
| TAS | 1:4 | 1:5 | 1:10, or 2:25 for children attending a preschool program (Reg 342) | 1:15 |
| VIC | 1:4 | 1:4 (Reg 357) | 1:11 | 1:15 |
| WA | 1:4 | 1:5 | 1:11 | 1 up to 10 children, 2 up to 26, then +1 per 13; 1:10 if a preschool-age child attends (Reg 369) |
1:4 under 24 months, 1:5 to under 36 months, 1:10 from 36 months to under 6 years under Regulation 271 (stricter than the national 1:11), and 1:15 over preschool age. The 5-minute brief-absence tolerance in Regulation 299H was introduced for NSW services. Ratio breaches can lead to compliance action, conditions on approval and, in serious cases, suspension; staffing records under Regulations 145 to 152 are what the regulator reads first.
Victoria applies 1:4 for children over 24 and under 36 months under Regulation 357, so that band is 1:4 rather than the national 1:5. From 36 months to preschool age 1:11, and 1:15 over preschool age. Every service must have at least one educator with a relevant tertiary qualification, and waivers are available only in exceptional circumstances with the regulatory authority’s approval.
The national figures apply: 1:4 under 24 months, 1:5 to under 36 months, 1:11 from 36 months to preschool age, 1:15 over preschool age. The historical transitional arrangements for services licensed before 2011 have expired (Regulation 300). Ratios must be held through transitions, outdoor play, meals and rest periods, not only in the room.
1:4 under 24 months, 1:5 to under 36 months and the national 1:11 from 36 months to preschool age for centre-based services (the 1:10 in Regulation 372 applies only to kindergarten programmes provided by a school). Over preschool age, Regulation 369 sets a table: with no preschool-age child attending, 1 educator for up to 10 children, 2 for 11 to 26, then 1 more for each further 13 or part; with a preschool-age child attending, 1 educator per 10 children or part. Twenty school-age children therefore need 2 educators, 27 need 3 and 40 need 4; the calculator applies this table and says so in its result line. Each space must meet the ratio for the children in it at the time; a service cannot average across age groups except when calculating the whole-of-service minimum under Regulation 123.
The national figures apply: 1:4, 1:5, 1:11 and 1:15 (the SA regulator confirms r 123(1)(a)–(d)). Only educators who are working directly with children count, and a nominated supervisor counts only while doing so. Older children may be counted toward younger children’s ratios, and the educators needed are the total across the groups.
1:4 under 24 months, 1:5 to under 36 months, 1:10 from 36 months to preschool age, or 2:25 for children attending a preschool program under Regulation 342, and 1:15 over preschool age.
The ACT applies 1:4, 1:5 and 1:11 for the three younger bands and 1:11 over preschool age under Regulation 260. The Northern Territory applies the national figures in every band: 1:4, 1:5, 1:11, 1:15.
Ask any educator-to-child ratio question. WIDEN Law returns the relevant regulation with a clickable source.
14-day free trial, no card →Across recent A&R cycles, the most frequent ratio-related findings include:
The shared theme is that compliance depends on the operating reality, not the staffing roster on paper. WIDEN Law can help you read the regulation against your specific scenario, but the operating discipline is yours.
1 educator to 4 children for centre-based services, under Reg 123(1)(a). The educator must be working directly with children at the service to count.
Yes — the national ratio is 1 educator to 5 children for the 24 to under 36 month band (Reg 123(1)(b)). Victoria applies 1:4 for children over 24 and under 36 months (Reg 357); every other jurisdiction uses 1:5.
Only educators working directly with children at the service (Reg 122). Educators on break, in admin, or supervising from another room do not count. A brief absence of 5 minutes or less is tolerated under specific conditions (Reg 299H and equivalents).
Not as the primary educator. Students undertaking approved qualifications can in limited circumstances count under specific reg-based provisions; verify the exact rule for your jurisdiction via WIDEN Law or your state regulator.
1 educator to 15 children over preschool age nationally (Reg 123(1)(d)). Two jurisdictions differ: the ACT applies 1:11 over preschool age (Reg 260), and Western Australia uses the table in Reg 369: with no preschool-age child attending, 1 educator for up to 10 children, 2 for 11 to 26, then 1 more for each further 13 or part; with a preschool-age child attending, 1 educator per 10 children or part.
Work out each age band separately and round up. 3 children under 24 months need 1 educator (3 ÷ 4) and 4 children aged 24–36 months need 1 educator (4 ÷ 5): 2 educators, both present at all times. The calculator does this for any mix.
Regulation 123 sets the minimum number of educators by reference to all children in attendance at the service, not room by room. Adding every band’s fractional requirement first and rounding up once can need one educator fewer than the room-by-room count; the educators must still be deployed so every group meets its band’s ratio and children are adequately supervised in every room (s 165). Status: Education Ministers agreed in February 2026 to remove the across-the-service approach; as at the 12 August 2026 reprint regulation 123 has not yet been amended. See under the roof ratios for the current position and how to roster room by room.
Under the national rule there is no tolerance: an educator who is not physically present and directly engaged is out of the ratio (r 122). Queensland r 299H deems the ratio met during an absence of 5 minutes or less that is not a rest pause, provided no other counted educator is absent at the same time, with rest-pause rules in r 299F and 299G; South Australia (r 325A) and Tasmania (r 342A) have their own short-absence provisions. Other jurisdictions have none. Frequent or planned use of these provisions is not what they are for. See regulation 122.
This page is a research summary, not legal or compliance advice. Always verify the specific requirement applicable to your service against the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 and your state regulator's guidance.