Does the regulator tell you the visit date first, or ask for the QIP first?

Usually both at once. You get a phone call, then a letter that confirms the date and asks for your QIP and other documents.

How much notice do you get for an assessment and rating visit?

Usually about 5 days for a full A&R, and 1-5 days for a partial one. NT gives at least 7 days. Services with compliance issues can be assessed without notice.

How long do I have to submit my QIP?

It depends on the state: 24 hours in WA, 1 business day in SA, 2 days in NSW, 48 hours in NT. Elsewhere, follow the timeframe in your commencement letter.

Do I need to rewrite my QIP before the visit?

No. The QIP must be reviewed at least annually and kept current. Regulators say there is no need to update it in the days before the visit.

I got a QIP request with no visit date. Is an A&R coming?

Not necessarily. Some regulators ask services to keep QIPs current outside an A&R (Tasmania, for example). Check the email for a visit date or an officer's name, or contact your regulator.

Can I ask to change the visit date?

If a key person is unavailable and the officer couldn't observe typical practice, the regulator may postpone at its discretion. Raise it on the notification call.

Got an A&R Notice? QIP Deadlines & Notice Periods by State (2026)

If an email from your regulatory authority has just landed asking for your Quality Improvement Plan, this page explains what it means, how long you have in each state and territory, and what to do in the first 48 hours.

What the email actually means

Since 2023, ACECQA and the state regulators have moved from about 6 weeks' notice to a shorter notice period of 1-5 days for most visits, so services are "always ready." The regulator uses the QIP you submit (or the one already uploaded to NQA ITS) to plan the visit, so the request for your QIP and the visit date normally arrive together.

Partial reassessments can come with less notice than a full assessment. Services with compliance issues can be assessed without notice.

Notice periods and QIP deadlines by state

Rules change. Always follow the timeframe in your commencement letter.

State / territory	Regulator	Notice before visit	QIP due	Source
NSW	NSW Department of Education (Regulatory Authority)	5 business days	Within 2 days of notice (QIP or Self-Assessment Working Document)	education.nsw.gov.au ECE Connect A&R FAQs
SA	Education Standards Board (ESB)	5 business days (from 1 July 2026)	Within 1 business day of notice	esb.sa.gov.au "Enhancements to our assessment and rating process"
WA	Education and Care Regulatory Unit (ECRU)	1-5 days, usually 5	Within 24 hours of the phone call	wa.gov.au ECRU A&R refinements FAQs
NT	Quality Education and Care NT (QECNT)	At least 7 days	48 hours after the commencement phone call	education.nt.gov.au regulation amendments Q&A
QLD	Queensland Regulatory Authority (Dept of Education)	Usually 5 days for a full A&R; 1-5 days for a partial	Requested in the commencement letter, with other documents, before the visit	earlychildhood.qld.gov.au A&R process
VIC	Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA)	National 1-5 day approach	Check your commencement letter	vecra.vic.gov.au
TAS	Education and Care Unit (ECU), DECYP	1-5 days (since May 2023)	Keep a current QIP on NQA ITS (RAI01 form). The ECU sends reminders	educationandcare.tas.gov.au
ACT	ACT Children's Education and Care Assurance	National 1-5 day approach	Check your commencement letter	acecqa.gov.au + ACT regulator

Your first 48 hours - a checklist

Read the letter: visit date, full or partial assessment, which quality areas, the officer's name, and the document list.
Note the QIP deadline in hours, not days.
Submit your current QIP. Don't rewrite it. Regulators say they want your everyday QIP.
Tell your team and families the visit date.
Pull supervision evidence for QA2: supervision plans, risk assessments, incident records, and ratio records.
Make sure your Nominated Supervisor or Responsible Person and Educational Leader will be on site. If a key person is genuinely unavailable, raise it with the officer straight away.
Run the free QA2 Self-Audit Checklist.

Run the free QA2 Self-Audit Checklist →

Why "always ready" matters for QA2 supervision

Supervision (Element 2.2.1) is observed live on the day and can't be staged in 5 days. Timestamped supervision records collected throughout the year (blind-spot alerts, ratio drift, unattended-child alerts) give you evidence of everyday practice and feed your QIP.

See how SooperVision supports QA2 →

Where technology helps

AI-assisted alerts can help teams notice defined supervision risks on existing CCTV. They support active supervision and do not replace educators or identify people on CCTV.

Sources

General information only, not legal advice. Check current requirements with your state or territory regulatory authority.

Got an assessment and rating notice? What happens next