Early childhood is a highly regulated sector that provides education and care to the most vulnerable members of our community: children. Navigating regulations while delivering a high standard of service to families, and supporting educators at the same time, is not an easy task.
The Challenge
Operating within the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector presents unique and significant demands. Providers are constantly striving to uphold the highest standards, yet they frequently encounter critical challenges in maintaining compliance and ensuring optimal environments. These include:
Provide a safe and caring environment for children, families and educators as a priority
NQS compliance: meeting compliance with the NQS Standards can be overwhelming and reactive
Ensure that the organisation have contingencies and crisis plan in plan to able to effectively resolve any challenge that they may face.
Who This is For
Our Solutions
At Audit Express we understand your needs and responsibilities. We have a dedicated qualified and experienced team that will support you to navigate all challenges that you may face while ensuring the best service is provided to the children and families:
Internal audit against the Child Safe Standards
All Victorian organisations providing services or facilities to children must comply with Child Safe Standards.
There are 11 Child Safe Standards that aim to protect children and young people by:
- Promoting the safety of children
- Preventing child abuse
- Ensuring effective processes are in place to respond to and report allegations of child abuse
- Encouraging children to have a say, especially on issues that are important to them or about decisions that affect their lives.
To ensure and promote a safe, healthy and caring environment for each child in your service, Audit Express will:
- Conduct an extensive internal audit to ensure compliance
- Develop action plans and collaborate with implementing the audit’s recommendations and improvements
- Assist with reviewing and updating policies, procedures and practices supervision to be aligned with Standards requirements
- Provide resources and training to all staff and volunteers to accomplish child safe best practices.
Internal Audit against the National Quality Standards (NQS)
The National Quality Standards (NQS) are part of the National Quality Framework (NQF) and set a high national benchmark for early childhood education.
The NQS includes seven quality areas that are important to children’s outcomes.
The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) assesses and rates services against the NQS. Based on these results, services are given a rating for each of the seven quality areas and an overall rating.
Organisations that thrive on providing excellent services and care to children and families and supporting their communities aim to not only meet but exceed in each of these quality areas.
Audit Express will provide support to your services to meet those Quality Standards:
- Conduct audits to ensure compliance with the NQS
- Assist and collaborate with the development of the Quality Improvement Plan (QIP)
- Assist and collaborate with the implementation of recommendations and improvements
- Facilitate resources and workshops for the staff in your services to meet and exceed in each quality area
- Provide mentoring and coaching sessions for all staff.
Food Safety Audits
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services must meet the Food Safety Standard 3.2.2A required by the Food Act 1984.
The Department of Health Victoria classifies ECEC services that provide hot/cold meals and snacks as Class 1 (high risk).
Audit Express will:
- Assist in developing and implementing the Food Safety Program tailored to your service
- Conduct a compliance review to ensure the Centre is ready to undergo the two mandatory compliance checks each year:
- a council assessment of the premises and compliance with the documented food safety program
- an audit of the food safety program by a Department of Health – approved auditor to determine adequacy and compliance
- Ensure compliance to all staff members and volunteers in the service
- Guide suitable training and skills for the Food Safety Supervisor in the Centre.
Risk Management Assessment and Crisis & Contingency Plan
Audit Express will conduct a comprehensive risk management assessment of the whole organisation and collaboratively develop an action plan tailored to your service for the mitigation and control measures.
We will facilitate the development and implementation of a Crisis and Contingency Management Plan for your organisation so that you can make assertive decisions and allocate adequate resources to manage crisis and contingency events.
How It Works
Internal Audit:
We conduct thorough internal audits to ensure your service is prepared and compliant with:
- the National Quality Standards,
- the Australia New Zealand Food Standard Code, and
- the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
Strategic Action Planning
We develop clear, actionable plans to implement recommendations and drive continuous improvement.
Quality Improvement Program (QIP) Guidance
We provide expert guidance to help you create and implement your Quality Improvement Program in your service.
Food Safety Program Development
We assist in developing a food safety program tailored to your service’s unique needs.
Staff Empowerment & Development
We offer resources, coaching, and mentoring to empower your staff and enhance their capabilities in quality of care and education, and compliance.
Let’s get your
organisation audit-ready.
Contact us today to book a consultation to learn more.