How to Use the Guide to the National Quality Framework (NQF)

April 19, 2025

🔎 How to Use the Guide to the National Quality Framework (NQF)

If you're an educator, educational leader, or service provider working under the NQF, chances are you’ve encountered "The Guide to the NQF." But how do you actually use it? In this blog we'll explore how to use the guide to the National Quality Framework (NQF).

A practical resource for educators, providers, and early learning services

Whether you're a new educator, a seasoned director, or somewhere in between, chances are you've heard about the Guide to the National Quality Framework. But unless you've had to deep-dive into regulations or prepare for assessment and rating, you might not know just how helpful and essential this document can be.

Let’s walk through exactly what the Guide is, how to use it effectively, and how it can support your day-to-day work.

Let’s break it down.

🧰 What is the Guide to the National Quality Framework?

The Guide to the National Quality Framework is the official companion to the NQF. Created by ACECQA, it's designed to help education and care professionals understand and apply the expectations set out in the National Law, National Regulations, and National Quality Standard. Think of it as your professional toolkit—it doesn’t replace the law, but it makes interpreting it a lot more practical.

It’s used by educators, nominated supervisors, educational leaders, service providers, and even authorised officers during assessment and rating visits.

The Guide to the National Quality Framework is your official, in-depth reference document. It was created to support:

Education and care providers
Educators and Educational Leaders
Authorised officers and assessors

It helps you understand and apply the legal and quality requirements of the NQF—but it’s not a legal document itself. The National Law and Regulations always take precedence.

📖 How to Use the Guide (Without Losing Your Mind)

Let’s be honest - at over 500 pages, the Guide is not light reading. But here’s the good news: it’s not designed to be read cover to cover.

Instead, the Guide functions as a comprehensive reference document. You dip in and out of it when you need clarification, guidance, or support on specific topics. For example:

Wondering what documentation is required for a new service application? The answer’s in there.
Looking to better understand a quality area during self-assessment? There’s a detailed breakdown for each one.
Need to review the learning frameworks or operational requirements? Yep, that's also included.

The best way to use the Guide is digitally, so you can:

Quickly search for keywords
Bookmark commonly used sections
Stay up to date with changes

This isn’t a cover-to-cover read. Think of it more like a professional dictionary or encyclopedia. Use it when you need answers to questions like:

Use the search function in the PDF (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F) to find what you need quickly. Bookmark common sections and highlight frequently used pages.

💡 Hot Tip: Use the Online Version!

Because the NQF continues to evolve with updates to legislation, policy, and practice, the Guide is regularly updated to reflect those changes. That means printed versions can become outdated quickly.

In fact we strongly recommend that you don't use a printed copy in your service. Create a QR code and use that to access the latest edition and this way you're never caught out!

By using the interactive PDF, you’ll always be working from the most current information. Plus, the online version includes hyperlinks for easy navigation and is searchable, which saves you time. And we all know just how time poor educators and service leaders are.

You can download the latest version from ACECQA here:
👉 Interactive Guide to the NQF (PDF)

The online PDF is:

✅ Always up to date
✅ Easy to navigate with search
✅ Linked to the latest changes and updates

Hard copies aren’t available due to ongoing updates, so make sure you’re using the latest digital version.

📌 What's Inside?

So, what can you actually find inside the Guide? A lot. But here are the main areas it covers:

🔹 Applications and Approvals

Starting a new service? Transferring ownership? This section outlines what you need to submit, how approvals work across jurisdictions, and what documentation is required.

🔹 Operational Requirements

This section is a go-to for day-to-day management. It includes everything from staffing ratios and policies to enrolment, health, safety, supervision, excursions, and educator qualifications.

🔹 Assessment and Rating

Here you'll find detailed explanations of the assessment and quality rating process. This includes how services are assessed, what authorised officers are looking for, and how the final quality rating is determined.

🔹 National Quality Standard (NQS)

Each of the seven Quality Areas is unpacked here, with detailed guidance on the standards, elements, and what “Meeting” or “Exceeding” looks like in practice. A great tool for self-assessment and quality improvement planning.

🔹 Educational Program and Practice

There’s also helpful advice on implementing the Approved Learning Frameworks (EYLF and MTOP), intentional teaching, planning and documentation, and critical reflection.

🔄 Stay Informed: Check for Updates

The NQF isn’t static—neither is the Guide. As legislation evolves, the Guide is updated with:

Clearer examples and case studies
Additional guidance in response to sector feedback
Alignment with updates to the learning frameworks and regulatory amendments

Tip: Scroll to the bottom of the Guide to the NQF page on ACECQA’s website to check for the latest updates or download the most recent version.

Final Thoughts

The Guide to the NQF isn’t just a regulatory requirement—it’s a living tool that supports educators and services in delivering high-quality early learning. When used effectively, it becomes part of your reflective practice, your planning, and your growth as a professional.

So don’t be intimidated by the size. Open it, search what you need, and make it part of your everyday practice.

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