Section A: Organisational requirements

There are a set of organisational requirements that focus on ensuring Partner Providers and their Services are committed to meeting their legal, ethical, financial and operational obligations.

Snapshot of your requirements

• Australian Business number (ABN) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) - Providers are required to have an ABN and be registered for GST
• Financial viability - Providers are required to demonstrate ongoing financial viability and declare to the OECD any legal or financial misconduct
• Child safe environments - Providers must ensure all Partner Services have relevant policies and procedures relating to child safe environments, as required under the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017, National Law and Education and Early Childhood Services (Registration and Standards) Act 2011 (National Regulations)
• Insurance - Providers must hold $20m Public Liability Insurance, including coverage for allegations of historic or current child abuse for all Partner Services
• Approved Provider and service approval for a South Australian-based service - Providers must be an Approved Provider under the National Law and maintain a centre-based care service approval under the National Law and National Regulations, for all Partner Services¹
• Preschool delivery - Providers must commit to delivering 3-year-old preschool as a minimum to be a Partner Service. With the exception of Integrated Hubs and Services delivering Preschool Plus, Partner Services are not required to offer 4-year-old preschool but are encouraged to offer both 3- and 4-year-old preschool. Note, mixed-age rooms are allowable
• Funding and program administration - Providers are required to complete accurate and timely service-level data submissions, program reporting and funding acquittals within prescribed timelines as articulated in Section C of this Guide
• Participation in research and evaluation - Providers and their Partner Services may be required to capture and submit additional data as part of evaluation participation. Additional data requirements for evaluation will be part of an OECD-approved evaluation design, developed in consultation with sector representatives where appropriate
• Information sharing consent and declaration - Providers must ensure consent is obtained from parents or guardians to share their and their child’s information with the OECD to administer the Flying Start preschool programs and comply with early childhood reporting obligations. Providers must also issue families with a Flying Start preschool confirmation notice 6 months before their child’s eligible 3-year-old preschool commencement
• Provider and Service accountability - Providers are required to ensure funding associated with a Partner Service is attributed to that service, and that there is transparency in funding information between Providers and Services. Providers are required to support Partner Services in meeting the partnership requirements
• Transparency in funding and fees - Providers are required to ensure Partner Services communicate clearly to families that the South Australian Government is providing funding to cover the additional costs associated with provision of a preschool program. Partner Services are not permitted to increase fees for families enrolling in a preschool program
• Displaying preschool program information - Providers and Partner Services are required to display Flying Start partner preschool signage, preschool operating days and times, and the name and qualifications of the Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) or other qualified position delivering the preschool program at all times
• Record keeping - Providers and Partner Services must keep records that support evidence of applying spending rules. For example, receipts, tax invoices, financial statements in line with Australian Accounting Standards. Providers should also maintain records of consent for information sharing, evidence of ECT non-contact time, and involvement in professional development activities for audit purposes
• Provider or Service changes - Providers are required to provide 90 days’ notice of the intent to cease operating a Service, withdraw from the program, or change provider.

¹ The OECD may consider the eligibility of providers that meet the preschool program objectives but are not currently Approved Providers under the National Law and National Regulations. In particular, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation-operated Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services not currently regulated under the National Law. The OECD has absolute discretion to determine provider and service eligibility.