To operate an education and care service in WA, you will need to apply for:
- A Provider approval – those who own or operate services and want to apply to become an approved provider or amend existing provider status and
- A Service approval – approved providers who want to apply to operate a service.
Under the National Law and Regulations the Department of Communities, as the Regulatory Authority, has the following timelines for processing applications:
- 60 days to process a provider approval
- 90 days to process a service approval.
Processing of applications commences from the date which all necessary documentation is received, and the application is validated as complete.
The department will always aim to complete applications as early as possible within these time frames. However, the department strongly urges applicants to factor in the maximum time frame in their planning.
Guidance and instruction on applying for provider and services approvals can be found in the Guide to the National Quality Framework on the ACECQA website.
To apply
The National Quality Agenda Information Technology System allows providers to use a secure online portal to apply for approvals and to submit notifications. For more information and access to the system, visit National Quality Agenda IT System.
