how to check a childcare centre rating in Australia
by Emma Whitfield · 12 April 2026
Every approved childcare centre in Australia is assessed and rated under the National Quality Standard (NQS). The rating tells you how the centre performs across seven quality areas — from educational programs to staffing and safety. Knowing how to check a childcare centre's rating is one of the simplest ways to shortlist quality care for your child.
This guide walks you through exactly how to look up any centre's rating, what each level means, and what to do if your centre scores lower than you'd expect.
how to check any centre's rating
There are two main ways to check a childcare centre's NQS rating in Australia:
- ACECQA national register — visit acecqa.gov.au and search by centre name, suburb, or postcode. The register shows the overall rating plus individual ratings for each of the seven quality areas.
- mini mode childcare directory — our childcare directory lists every approved centre in Australia with its NQS rating, mini mode score, services offered, and contact details — all on one page. You can search by suburb or postcode and filter by rating level.
If you already know the centre's name, the fastest method is to search directly in our directory. If you want the detailed breakdown by quality area, use the ACECQA register as well.
what NQS ratings mean
The NQS uses five rating levels. Here's what each one means for your child's care:
| rating | what it means |
|---|---|
| Excellent | The highest achievable rating. Awarded by ACECQA (not state regulators) to centres that demonstrate sector leadership and exceptional practice. Very few centres hold this rating. |
| Exceeding NQS | The centre goes above and beyond the standard in most or all quality areas. Strong educational programs, highly qualified educators, and excellent family engagement. |
| Meeting NQS | The centre meets the national benchmark across all seven quality areas. This is a solid rating — the majority of Australian centres sit at Meeting or above. |
| Working Towards NQS | The centre has not yet met the standard in one or more quality areas. It is still approved and regulated, but there are areas identified for improvement. |
| Significant Improvement Required | A serious rating indicating the centre poses an unacceptable risk to children's safety, health, or wellbeing. These centres are subject to compliance action by their regulatory authority. |
For a deeper explanation of each rating level and the seven quality areas, see our full guide to NQS ratings explained.
the mini mode score — what it adds beyond NQS
The NQS rating tells you whether a centre meets the government standard, but it doesn't capture everything parents care about. That's why we created the mini mode score — a 10-point composite rating that combines the NQS rating with practical data points including:
- service range — does the centre offer long day care, before/after school care, vacation care, or a preschool program?
- capacity — larger centres may offer more age groups, rooms, and flexibility
- contactability — does the centre list a phone number so you can actually call and ask questions?
- integrated preschool — centres that offer a funded preschool program within their service get a small bonus
The mini mode score gives you a single number to compare centres at a glance, but it is a starting filter — not a replacement for visiting in person. Read the full breakdown of how the score is calculated.
how to look up your centre
To find and check the rating for a specific childcare centre:
- Go to the mini mode childcare directory
- Enter your suburb, postcode, or the centre's name in the search bar
- Browse the results — each listing shows the centre's NQS rating, mini mode score, services, and contact details
- Click through to a centre's page for the full profile, including service types and location
If the centre you're looking for shows "Provisional — Not Yet Assessed," it means the centre is newly approved and hasn't had its first NQS assessment yet. This doesn't mean there's a problem — all new centres go through this period.
what to do if your centre has a low rating
If your child's centre is rated Working Towards NQS, it doesn't necessarily mean you should pull them out tomorrow. Here's a practical approach:
- check which quality areas are below standard — the ACECQA register shows individual area ratings. A centre might be Working Towards overall because of governance issues, not because of how educators interact with your child.
- ask the director about their Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) — every centre is required to have one. Ask what they're doing to address the identified areas.
- check when the assessment was done — if it was several years ago, the centre may have already improved. They can apply for reassessment.
- trust your observations — visit the centre, watch how educators engage with the children, and talk to other parents. A rating is a snapshot in time, not the full picture.
- if it's Significant Improvement Required — this is more serious. The regulatory authority will be actively involved. Consider alternative options and check our directory for nearby centres with higher ratings.
when ratings were last updated
NQS ratings are not updated on a fixed national schedule. Each state and territory regulatory authority manages its own assessment cycle, typically reassessing centres every 3 to 5 years. A few things to keep in mind:
- Centres rated Working Towards NQS may be prioritised for earlier reassessment
- The ACECQA register shows the date of each centre's most recent assessment — always check this to understand how current the rating is
- mini mode updates its directory data regularly to reflect the latest published ratings from ACECQA
frequently asked questions
how do I check my childcare centre's NQS rating?
Search for the centre on the ACECQA national register or use the mini mode childcare directory which displays NQS ratings alongside other practical details for every approved centre in Australia.
what does "Working Towards NQS" mean?
It means the centre hasn't met the benchmark in one or more of the seven quality areas. The centre is still approved and regulated — it just has areas identified for improvement. Around 20% of Australian centres hold this rating.
how often are childcare centre ratings updated?
Centres are typically reassessed every 3 to 5 years by their state or territory regulatory authority. Centres rated Working Towards may be reassessed sooner, and any centre can request a reassessment if they believe they've improved.
is a centre with no rating safe to use?
Some centres show as "Provisional — Not Yet Assessed" because they are newly approved and haven't had their first assessment. These centres are still licensed and regulated. Ask the director when their assessment is expected and request to see their Quality Improvement Plan.
next steps
Ready to check your centre's rating? Start with our directory — it's the fastest way to look up any approved childcare centre in Australia.
Emma Whitfield is a family policy researcher and mum of three from Brisbane. she covers government payments, childcare subsidies, and parenting entitlements for mini mode.