Information for Applicants
FAQ’s Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I have grounds for a review?
Services are encouraged to contact NCAC for clarification of their Accreditation Decision. The service can decide whether they have grounds for a review of the Accreditation Decision if they feel they have sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the practices within their service, at the time of the Validation Visit, had been misunderstood, misinterpreted or misrepresented. Services are encouraged to contact NCAC for clarification of their Accreditation Decision.
- What can I request to be reviewed?
The service can request a review of the Accreditation Decision by seeking a review of the relevant Principle/s and quality Indicators in the Validation Report that contributed to the Accreditation Decision. Therefore, the service needs to clearly identify the Principles and quality Indicators they believe should be reviewed.
- How long do I have to submit my request for a review of the NCAC Decision?
The service must submit their Application for Review to ADRC within 20 working days from the date they received their Accreditation Decision. Services are to include with their Application for Review, a signed statement indicating the date of receipt of the Accreditation Decision (refer to PART A point 9 in the Application for Review form).
- What help can I get and from whom?
In the first instance contact NCAC to obtain further clarification on the Accreditation Decision. It may then be useful to contact the Professional Support Co-ordinator in your State or Territory for further assistance in preparing your Application for Review.
i) To contact NCAC refer to www.ncac.gov.au or phone NCAC on 1300 136 554 or (02) 8260 1900.
ii) To locate your State/Territory Professional Support Co-ordinator refer to The Office of Early Childhood Education and Child Care website www.oececc.gov.au/.
- What happens if my Self-study Report is due whilst I am awaiting the outcome of the Review of the Accreditation Decision?
Contact NCAC for guidance regarding the Self-study Report due date.
- How long will the review of my service's Accreditation Decision take?
ADRC is currently working within a timeframe of 4 months from receipt of all documentation to submission of Report with recommendations to service and NCAC.
QIAS (Centre Based Care): 3 months from receipt of all documentation to submission of Report with recommendations to service and NCAC
FDC: 4 months from receipt of all documentation to submission of Report with recommendations to service and NCAC
OSHC: 4 months from receipt of all documentation to submission of Report with recommendations to service and NCAC
If an Application for Review of the NCAC Accreditation Decision exceeds the above stated timeframes the service will be advised.
- Who will advise me of the outcome?
ADRC sends the service a copy of its Report with recommendations. ADRC submits its Report with recommendations to NCAC. NCAC reviews the ADRC Report and advises the service of the final Accreditation Decision.
- Can I contact the ADRC direct?
All services can contact ADRC on Freecall 1300 734 347 or by email at information@adrc.org.au on matters relating to their Application for Review of the NCAC Decision. ADRC is a part time office and all calls will be responded to within a twenty fours hour period. All other matters must be directed to NCAC, www.ncac.gov.au or phone NCAC on 1300 136 554 or (02) 8260 1900.
- Will the appeal cost me anything?
There is no cost associated with submitting your Application for Review of your NCAC Accreditation Decision to ADRC.
- What information/evidence do I need to provide with my Application for Review?
It is important that the service examines every quality Indicator assessed as not occurring within a Principle they seek to have reviewed, to determine whether they have sufficient evidence to present to ADRC for a review of that quality Indicator and Principle.
In particular, services must ensure that they have presented evidence for every Satisfactory quality Indicator assessed as 'not occurring' in the Validation Report, which they seek to have reviewed within a Principle. ADRC can only recommend an amendment to the assessment of a quality Indicator if ADRC is provided with sufficient evidence. Evidence is information in a statement, record, document or other thing, such as a photograph, that demonstrates the service practices in existence at the time of the Validation Visit and which supports the reasoning in the Application for Review submitted to ADRC.
To assist with an explanation of what ADRC considers as evidence please refer to What is sufficient evidence?.
© Australian Government 2008