Overview

Fees are set under the Education and Care Services National Regulations.

Fees contribute to the cost of regulating the early learning sector, and support monitoring, compliance and other regulatory activities to strengthen the safety of children attending services that provide early childhood education and care.

There are 2 types of fees:

• transaction fees that apply to specific transactions such as applications
• annual service fees that apply to all services.

Transaction fees

All services must pay transaction fees. Common transactions include applications for:

• service approval
• provider approval
• reassessment and re-rating
• service waivers
• temporary waivers.

Visit ACECQA for a list of transaction fees and costs.

When to pay

Pay the transaction fee when you lodge the relevant application.

Annual service fee

All services must pay an annual fee. The fee amount depends on the type and size of the service and type and size of the provider.

Visit ACECQA for annual service fee amounts.

New service approval

If you're applying for a new service approval you need to pay both:

• an application fee
• the annual fee for the first year of approval.

How to pay fees

Invoices for annual service fees for the 2026/27 financial year have not been issued yet. Approved providers will not be able to pay annual service fees until invoices are issued, which will be later than usual this year.

Services regulated under the National Quality Framework are invoiced via NQA ITS.

When invoiced, services must pay through NQA ITS by:

• BPAY or
• credit card.

Make sure you:

• Only pay each invoice once.
• Pay the full amount.
• Use the correct reference number.
• Only pay by BPAY or credit card.

State-regulated services

Services regulated under the state-based framework (such as occasional care services, Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s services and mobile services) are provided with a copy of their invoice via email.

When invoiced, services must pay via the BPay details provided on the invoice.

Make sure you:

• Only pay each invoice once.
• Pay the full amount.
• Only pay by BPay using the payment details provided on the invoice.

Overdue invoices

Overdue invoices will incur a late fee and may result in the suspension of a service approval.

Waivers and alternative arrangements

Under Section 261(e) of the Children (Education and Care Services) National Law, the NSW Early Learning Commission can collect, waive, reduce, defer and refund fees.

Applications to have fees waived, reduced, deferred or refunded must be made in writing and include sufficient information for the Commission to assess the request.

The Commission can also enter into agreements in relation to the prescribed fees under the National Law. When an approved provider requests for a fee arrangement with the Commission, it must be made in writing and must include evidence such as but not limited to:

• statutory declarations from a PMC regarding financial hardship
• financial statements and cash flow reports
• balance sheets
• budget/expense reports.

For more information, read the Commission’s Fees and Charges Policy (PDF 200 KB).

More information

• Visit ACECQA's website
• Email information@earlylearningcommission.nsw.gov.au
• Call us on 1800 619 113