NQS Quality Area 6: Collaborative partnerships with families and communities

NQS Quality Area 6: Collaborative partnerships with families and communities (QA6) is one of the 7 Quality Areas under the National Quality Standard

Quality Area 6 aims to foster respectful and supportive relationships with families and ensure the service is responsive to the community's context and priorities. Collaborative partnerships strengthen the capacity and resilience of families and build a sense of belonging and connectedness for children. Effective partnerships support families in their parenting role and promote active engagement with the service and wider community.

From birth, children's development is best supported when there is a strong connection between home and care environments. Educators who engage in authentic partnerships with families and community agencies are better able to meet each child's individual needs, celebrate diversity, and provide children with broader learning experiences. Fostering these partnerships is essential in developing children’s identity and a positive attitude towards learning.

There are 2 Standards in Quality Area 6:

• (6.1) Supportive relationships with families

• (6.2) Collaborative partnerships

These Standards are crucial to delivering quality outcomes for children because they enable children to:

• Feel connected and valued within the service and the wider community

• Benefit from relevant information and resources that support their wellbeing and development

• Develop respect for diversity and an understanding of their place in the community

• Receive coordinated support when transitions and additional needs arise

Each standard is a high-level outcome statement and is accompanied by elements, which describe outcomes that contribute to the standard.

NQS Quality Area 6: Standard 6.1 – Supportive Relationships with Families

Standard 6.1	Supportive Relationships with Families	Respectful relationships with families are developed and maintained and families are supported in their parenting role.
Element 6.1.1	Engagement with families	Families are supported from enrolment to be actively engaged in the service and contribute to service decisions.
Element 6.1.2	Parent views respected	The expertise, culture, values, and beliefs of families are respected, and families are supported in their parenting role.
Element 6.1.3	Families informed	Current information about the service and relevant community resources is available to families.

Documentation that may be sighted by assessors relating to Standard 6.1

Element 6.1.1:

• Examples of information gathered from: - Families at enrolment to understand their goals, priorities, and preferences for their child - Surveys, feedback forms, or informal conversations capturing families’ input into decision-making for the service - Notices or newsletters inviting families to participate in events or contribute ideas

• The service's approach to family engagement, documented in the statement of philosophy.

• Documented examples of family participation in service activities and decision-making

• Evidence that educators regularly communicate with families and seek their feedback about their child's experiences and service policies

Element 6.1.2:

Documentation that shows:

• Respect for cultural diversity, with planning and programming reflecting family backgrounds

• Strategies used to acknowledge and incorporate family traditions and practices into the service

• Support offered to families in their parenting roles through information sessions, connections to support agencies, and resources

Element 6.1.3:

• Current and accessible information about:

  - The service's operation, philosophy, educational program, and community events

  - Local community services and resources relevant to families

• Documented communication channels, such as portals, notice boards, or newsletters, that keep families informed

NQS Quality Area 6: Standard 6.2 – Collaborative Partnerships

Standard 6.2	Collaborative Partnerships	Collaborative partnerships enhance children's inclusion, learning and wellbeing.
Element 6.2.1	Transitions	Continuity of learning and transitions for each child are supported by sharing relevant information and clarifying responsibilities.
Element 6.2.2	Access and participation	Effective partnerships support children's access, inclusion, and participation in the program.
Element 6.2.3	Community engagement	The service builds relationships and engages with its community.

Documentation that may be sighted by assessors relating to Standard 6.2

Element 6.2.1:

• The service's policy or procedure on supporting children during transitions, such as starting care, moving between rooms, or transitioning to school

• Evidence that information about children’s learning and development is shared with families and, with consent, with schools or other agencies during transitions

  Evidence that clear processes are in place for collaborative planning across transitions

Element 6.2.2:

• Policy statements and evidence that:

  - Partnerships with specialist agencies or support services are facilitated to enhance inclusion

  - Families are consulted and involved in decisions about access and participation

• Documented plans or adjustments made to support the individual access needs of children and families

Element 6.2.3:

Evidence of:

• Community partnerships, such as visits from local services, cultural groups, or health professionals

• Participation in community initiatives, events, and projects

• Activities that connect children with the broader community and promote learning about their place in the world

What to do to Meet or Exceed NQS Quality Area 6

Now you know the basics of what documentation needs to be sighted by authorised officers, it's important to ensure that your documentation is:

• Efficient: you don't want to spend too much time documenting at the expense of building genuine partnerships with families and the community.

• Easy to communicate: when an assessor comes in, you want these things to be sighted quickly and easily. This will help the assessor to understand that you have everything you need to Meet/Exceed QA6.

But efficiency and communication can be hard. That's why we've developed OWNA.

See how OWNA can help you improve your NQS rating by making documentation efficient and communication easier.

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