12 November 2025
What?
In recent months, TEQSA and ASQA have observed emerging risks around workplace learning in early childhood education and vocational training. TEQSA and ASQA take very seriously any emerging risks that have the potential to impact our most vulnerable in the community.
Why?
Early childhood staff play a critical role in the development and education of Australia’s children. It is important that their work is underpinned by education and training that ensures they are appropriately skilled and assessed to deliver high quality and safe care.
Our concerns
TEQSA and ASQA are concerned about:
- admitted students not being genuine and prepared for their courses
- education agents/third parties recruiting students who do not meet course admission standards and/or entry requirements
- large changes in enrolment practices into some courses
- students not having high-quality work placements to support their learning
- providers not having appropriate supports and systems in place for students seeking and undertaking workplace learning opportunities
- students not properly prepared (i.e. relevant training and mandatory checks have not been completed) prior to being allowed to undertake workplace learning opportunities
- providers not undertaking sufficient due diligence in determining which placement providers (early childhood education and care centres) are appropriate for student placements
- providers not ensuring that workplace learning opportunities have appropriate and sufficient supervision and academic oversight
- the integrity of some providers’ assessment activities
- providers being unaware of recent guidance issued to the sector around assessment practices
Our expectations
We expect that providers will ensure:
- robust processes and mechanisms are developed, delivered and reviewed to recruit and admit students who are prepared/suitable for the courses they enrol in
- students are properly prepared, and that on work placements sufficient oversight is provided
- staffing and placement offerings are proportionate to the volume of students admitted
- placement provider roles and responsibilities are clearly documented through formal agreements with the provider
- education agents/third parties are acting ethically and in the best interests of students
- the sufficient oversight of assessment integrity through coursework and work placements
It is therefore a priority that all higher education and VET providers, and their governing bodies, apply focus to these issues as a priority.
Relevant standards for providers
In delivering courses in early childhood education, the following legislative frameworks apply to higher education providers:
- Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (Threshold Standards)
- (if delivering the course to overseas students) National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code).
In delivering training and/or assessment to early childhood education and care, the following legislative frameworks apply to VET providers:
- National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Outcome Standards for Registered Training Organisations) Instrument 2025
- National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Compliance Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations and Fit and Proper Person Requirements) Instrument 2025
- (if delivering the course to overseas students) National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code).
Undertaking a check
Providers need to be able to demonstrate, through robust governance oversight, that risks to the quality of their early childhood education and care courses are identified and managed.
In support of this, TEQSA and ASQA expect all providers to undertake a check on your current processes and practices. This may include, but is not limited to:
- review your admission/enrolment practices and trends
- check what your education agents/third party are promoting in the market and ensure these arrangements have robust oversight
- ensure students have appropriate work placements and that you have sufficient oversight
- review risks around assessment integrity, including whether there are robust assessments in place to demonstrate students have achieved the intended learning outcomes
- review risks to assessment integrity by ensuring that all qualifications are awarded accurately, reflecting the skills and knowledge attained by a student
- ensure your academic and governing boards are aware of risks and mitigation strategies
Providers who may not be adequately managing these risks or not meeting the relevant Standards may be subject to a compliance assessment and/or regulatory action.
Raising concerns
TEQSA and ASQA take concerns raised about the quality of student outcomes and experiences seriously. You can report a concern:
- To ASQA on VET providers via ASQA’s VET Tip-Off Line
- To TEQSA on higher education providers via TEQSA’s complaint/concern process
Related resources
All providers
- Requirements for early childhood teaching program assessments – ACECQA
- ACECQA National Model Code: Taking images in early childhood education and care
TEQSA providers
- Guidance note: Corporate governance
- Guidance note: Academic governance
- Guidance note: Admissions (coursework)
- Guidance note: Work-integrated learning