A person with management or control (PMC) is anyone with authority or responsibility for, or significant influence over, the planning, direction or control of a childcare service’s activities or delivery (section 5A of the National Law). Examples are company officers, committee members of an association, partners, and area or state managers who make decisions about the service. Each PMC must be, and remain, fit and proper (section 12), must make children’s safety, rights and best interests the paramount consideration (section 2A), and must complete foundation and advanced child safety training every 2 years (section 162B). The provider must notify the regulator within 14 days of a PMC being appointed or removed, and within 7 days if a PMC is no longer fit and proper.
Who counts as a PMC, who usually does not, what the regulator assesses, the 2026 child safety duties, and the notification deadlines.
Under section 5A of the National Law, a PMC is a person with authority or responsibility for, or significant influence over, the planning, direction or control of the activities or delivery of an education and care service. ACECQA’s information sheet gives these examples:
A trust cannot hold a provider approval; the trustee applies instead.
A nominated supervisor, a person in day-to-day charge or a centre manager is not a PMC just because of that role. They become one only if they also take part in executive or financial decision-making, or have that authority, responsibility or significant influence, for example as a partner or an executive committee member of the provider.
Provider approval is not granted unless the regulator is satisfied that the applicant and each PMC are fit and proper (section 12), and the regulator can reassess this at any time. Under section 13, as explained in the Guide to the NQF, it considers matters such as:
The regulator may interview the person, set a written assessment, or both. Each PMC completes ACECQA’s declaration of fitness and propriety (PA02). See how to open a childcare centre.
| Event | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment or removal of a PMC | Within 14 days of the event or of becoming aware of it | Section 173, regulation 174 |
| A PMC is no longer fit and proper | Within 7 days | Section 174(1)(a) |
| Acquisition of 50% or more of the ownership or voting rights of the provider | Within 7 days | Section 173(1A) |
Notifications are lodged through the NQA ITS; see our NQA ITS guide. If the person is also a PMC under Family Assistance Law for Child Care Subsidy, notify the Australian Government Department of Education as well, following the Child Care Provider Handbook. The two definitions are similar but not identical: under Family Assistance Law, people such as service directors and managers are automatically PMCs.
Regulators may treat providers as related, for example where they share PMCs, when identifying risks to children (sections 5B and 5C of the National Law).
A person with management or control: someone with authority or responsibility for, or significant influence over, the planning, direction or control of the activities or delivery of an education and care service (section 5A of the National Law).
Not automatically. A nominated supervisor, person in day-to-day charge or centre manager is a PMC only if they also take part in executive or financial decision-making or otherwise have that authority or significant influence.
Within 14 days of the appointment or of becoming aware of it (section 173 and regulation 174). If a PMC is no longer fit and proper, notify within 7 days.
Yes. Since the 2026 reforms each PMC must complete foundation and advanced child safety training published by ACECQA, repeated every 2 years (section 162B).
The regulator considers compliance history, criminal history and working with children check status, financial matters such as bankruptcy, medical matters affecting capacity, and management capability, including knowledge of the NQF.
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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