The National Early Childhood Worker Register started on 27 February 2026. Approved providers (not workers) must record everyone employed, engaged or appointed in an education and care role at their NQF services, including educators, teachers, nominated supervisors, coordinators, non-educator staff, regular volunteers and placement students, but not visitors. It sits in the NQA ITS. Current workforce information was due by 27 March 2026; since then the provider must update it within 14 days of someone starting or of any change to their details. ACECQA says it is not yet mandatory in Western Australia.
Who must be on the Register, what it records, the 14-day rule, how it checks prohibited persons, and how it relates to your staff record.
A person goes on the Register if they are employed, engaged or appointed by the approved provider or the service (including through labour hire), perform a specific education and care role at an NQF service, and are not a visitor. ACECQA lists:
Visitors, such as an emergency tradesperson, are not included. VECRA notes that adults who live in a family day care residence do not need to be on the Register. ACECQA’s Operational Policy Guide has examples for matching each worker to the closest role. A person working for more than one provider is entered by each provider, and each provider sees only its own services.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Personal | Name, date of birth, any former names or aliases |
| Contact | Address, phone and email |
| Role and employment | Role at the service, where they work (including the family day care residence or venue), start and finish dates, and whether they are directly employed or agency or labour hire staff |
| Qualifications and training | Qualifications held or being actively worked towards, and completed approved training |
| Safety checks | Working with children check or WWVP registration number, and teacher registration details |
Only ACECQA, regulatory authorities, the approved provider and the staff it authorises can see the information. Families cannot search it.
New entries are automatically checked against the Prohibited Persons and Suspended Educators Register; if there is a possible match, the provider is prompted to contact the regulator. ACECQA stresses this does not replace the provider’s duty to check the register of prohibited persons before employing or engaging anyone. Working with children checks are still required before anyone starts: see the staff induction checklist.
Access is through the NQA ITS; ACECQA’s help centre has bulk-upload templates and step-by-step guides.
A national online register, in the NQA ITS, where approved providers record the people working in education and care roles at their NQF services, so regulators can see who works where. It started on 27 February 2026.
No. The approved provider enters and updates each worker's information. Workers do not self-register.
Within 14 days of a worker being employed, engaged or appointed, or of becoming aware of a change to their details. The Department of Education says failure risks a fine of up to $34,200.
Regular volunteers, and students or trainees on placement studying an approved education and care qualification, are included. Visitors are not.
No. Only ACECQA, regulatory authorities, the approved provider and staff it authorises can access the information.
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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