Partial reassessment and re-rating Project 2025

QECNT’s current assessment and rating policy states partial re-assessment should assess a minimum of four quality areas and take place after 6 months after the previously published assessment and rating and no later than 3 years after a previous full assessment and rating. This position is consistent with other jurisdictions, including New South Wales and Queensland and ensures a risk-based approach. The partial reassessment and re-rating tab provides more information on this.

As of 1 April 2025, 234 approved services were operational in the NT. Nationally, 91% of services held a quality rating of ‘Meeting’ the NQS or above however, only 77% met this same standard in the NT.

Of the services that hold a rating of ‘Working Towards’ the NQS or lower, a large portion of these have been assessed and rated less than two years ago and are only working towards in two or less quality areas. To improve the NT assessment ratings against the NQS, QECNT has committed to offering services with one or two quality areas working towards, the option for a partial reassessment and to be re-rated during the period of 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025.

The criteria for a service to be offered a targeted partial A&R is:

• Previously assessed and rated less than 2 years ago
• Working towards in only one or two quality areas

This approach provides the approved provider an opportunity to be re-assessed in a shorter time frame than resourcing and scheduling would usually allow, and an opportunity to demonstrate if they are now meeting the NQS.

To reflect QECNT’s commitment to ensuring services are operating with children’s health, safety and wellbeing at the forefront, all services will have quality area two (children’s health and safety) reassessed and re-rated, regardless of whether they are Working Towards or Meeting, in addition to one or two quality areas that are currently Working Towards.

A notice period is not required, however in most cases the approved provider will be contacted up to 5 days before to confirm the visit date and request the service’s quality improvement plan (QIP).

This partial reassessment will, in most instances, be conducted with a one-day visit to the service and will consist of observations, discussions and sighting of documentation.

QECNT will continue both the regular partial reassessment and re-rating and full assessment and rating schedule concurrently to this project, ensuring quality ratings are reflective of the quality provided to children.