When deciding to start operating a new service, there’s much to think about, from staffing to logistics, infrastructure and accommodation. It is critical that providers also schedule enough time for VECRA to assess a service approval application and to gather and provide all required documentation.
Making sure that your new service is ready to go, and has all the required approvals and assessments complete well ahead of opening, is vital in ensuring that services are safe and inclusive for all children.
VECRA needs a minimum of 90 days to assess and decide a ‘complete’ application for service approval. To meet this timeline, approved providers must provide all relevant documents in a timely manner and have their pre-approval inspection successfully completed.
It’s important to remember that if you don’t provide all required information as part of the assessment process, your application will be paused or may be invalidated.
Under National Law, an application is considered complete when the approved provider has:
- paid the required application fee through the National Quality Agenda IT System (NQA ITS) within the given time period, and
- provided all prescribed and requested documentation which may include a knowledge assessment where required during the provider approval application process
- completed a pre-approval inspection for a new service
A final decision on a service approval application will only be made once the application is complete with all prescribed and required documents submitted, it has been assessed, and the pre-approval inspection process has been satisfactorily completed.
VECRA will not be able to assess incomplete applications, so please make sure you carefully prepare your information in advance. If application fees are not paid by the due date, or you have not provided required documentation, your application processing timelines will lengthen. Failure to provide requested information within requested timeframes will result in the application being made invalid, and you will need to re-apply and pay a new application fee.
A new service’s proposed operation date is not guaranteed and is subject to the complete and satisfactory assessment of the application including the pre-approval inspection process.
Approved providers are responsible for managing their own building project timelines, and must ensure that both indoor and outdoor areas of the service premises are complete and comply with all requirements of the National Quality Framework before a pre-approval inspection can be arranged with an authorised officer. In is important that approved providers factor in building delays and modifications to service premises in their planning processes to address any safety or compliance concerns identified by VECRA Authorised Officers during pre-approval visit.
Applicants must hold provider approval and an occupancy permit in order for a service approval to be validated.
- Learn about approvals and operating an early childhood service at Becoming an early childhood provider
- For licensing and approvals enquiries email vecra.licensing@education.vic.gov.au
Updated