At the end of the Guide to the NQF, you can find a detailed glossary with key terms used in the Guide.
Here’s a list of frequently used terms in this module:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Agreements |
Enterprise agreements and other registered agreements set out minimum employment conditions. When a workplace has a registered agreement, the award doesn’t apply. However:
Registered agreements apply until they are terminated or replaced. This online tool will help you find an enterprise agreement. |
| Approved learning framework: |
A learning framework approved by the Ministerial Council (National Law). There are two nationally approved learning frameworks which outline practices that support and promote children’s learning:
|
| Approved provider | A person who holds a provider approval (National Law). A provider approval authorised a person to apply for one or more service approvals and is valid in all jurisdictions |
| Award | Awards set out minimum conditions for employees. Awards (modern awards) are legal documents that outline the minimum pay rates and conditions of employment. You can read more about awards here. |
| Assessment and rating | The process by which services are assessed and rated by their regulatory authority against the National Quality Standard, and given a rating for each of the seven quality areas and an overall rating based on these results. |
| Authorised officer (AO) | A person authorised to be an authorised officer under Part 9 (National Law). Authorised officers are appointed by the regulatory authority under the provisions of the National Law to carry out the functions of monitoring, assessing and rating licensed approved education and care services in their jurisdiction. |
| Bullying |
Bullying is repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed at a person (or group of people) and it may be unlawful. Bullying can cause both psychological and physical harm, making it a risk to health and safety. It can occur at the workplace, in everyday life and even online (aka cyber abuse). Workplace bullying is prohibited by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). Bullying does not include reasonable management action carried out in a reasonable manner. |
| Centre-based service | An education and care service other than a family day care service (National Regulations). This includes most long day care, preschool and outside school hours care services that are delivered at a centre. |
| Community | The local or wider social, cultural or geographical context shared with an education and care service. |
| Duty of care | Duty of care is the responsibility or duty to take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions that could expose people, for whom there is a responsibility, to a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury. |
| Employment contract |
An employment contract is an agreement between an employer and employee that sets out terms and conditions of employment. A contract can be in writing or verbal. An employment contract cannot provide for less than the legal minimum set out in:
All employees are covered by the NES, regardless of whether they’ve signed a contract. A contract can’t make employees worse off than their minimum legal entitlements. |
| Person in day-to-day charge |
A person is in day-to-day charge of an education and care service if:
|
| Preschool | Not defined in the National Law or Regulations. A service that provides an early childhood education program, delivered by a qualified teacher, often but not necessarily on a sessional basis in a dedicated service. Alternative terms used for preschool in some jurisdictions include kindergarten, pre-preparatory and reception. |
| Responsible person |
The responsible person is an individual who is physically present and is responsible for the operation of a centre-based service for an agreed period of time. A responsible person must be present at all times that the approved service operates and can be:
|
| Routines | Regular, everyday events in an education and care service such as meal times, sleep/rest times, groups times, nappy change/ toileting, hygiene, arriving and departing. Routines are a key component of the curriculum/program. Effective routines provide children with a sense of predictability and consistency that help children to feel safe, secure and supported. |
| Scaffold | The educators’ decisions and actions that build on children’s existing knowledge and skills to enhance their learning (Early Years Learning Framework p. 46). |
| Union |
Unions play an important role in the workplace. Their key roles include acting as employee representatives during workplace disputes and acting as a bargaining representative during bargaining negotiations. It is the employees’ choice to join the Union. This article explains how can the Union help with workplace issues or advocating for employees. |
| Workers compensation |
Workers compensation is a form of insurance payment to employees if they are injured at work or become sick due to their work. It is governed by individual Australian states and territories. You can find more information about workers compensation on Fair Work Ombudsman’s website or on Safe Work Australia’s website. |
