सामान्य जानकारी
What is the purpose of the Census?
The Education and Care National Workforce Census (“the Census”) is a data collection conducted by the Australian Government Department of Education (‘the department’).
The information collected through the Census supports governments to understand the availability, characteristics and distribution of the early childhood education and care workforce. This information is used to inform workforce planning, program design, policy development and reporting at the Australian, state and territory levels.
Who is conducting the Census?
For the 2026 Census, the Australian Government Department of Education (‘the department’) has engaged the Social Research Centre (SRC) to deliver the collection on its behalf.
सामाजिक अनुसंधान केंद्र कौन है?
The Social Research Centre (SRC) offers the Australian social research community unparalleled access to top-tier research and evaluation services. SRC comprehensive offerings encompass research design, stakeholder engagement, survey administration, statistical consultation, qualitative research, data science applications, as well as thorough analysis and reporting.
What information does the Census collect?
Please review the Privacy Notice, which explains the Census data collection:
What does the Census Privacy Notice include?
The Privacy Notice explains the data collection and how the department and SRC will use and disclose the information provided. Please ensure this notice is made available to each person included in the Census and that a copy is displayed in a prominent location for parents/guardians.
मैं अपने कर्मचारियों को गोपनीयता नोटिस कैसे उपलब्ध करा सकता हूँ?
The Privacy Notice is included in the registration invitation and is also available on the NWC website:
You can download and print the Privacy Notice, place it in a prominent location for parents/guardians and share it with staff through newsletters, meetings, emails or notice boards.
Do services need to confirm they have distributed the Privacy Notice?
Yes. Services will be asked in the Census to confirm that they have made the Privacy Notice available to staff and displayed it in a prominent location for parents/guardians.
क्या एकत्रित की गई जानकारी गोपनीय है?
Please review the Privacy Notice, which explains how the department and SRC will use and disclose the information provided.
Who needs to participate in the Census?
- All Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approved providers and services: Family Day Care, In-Home Care, OSHC (Before and/or After School Care), Centre-Based Day Care and OSHC (Vacation Care services) services.
- Preschools and Kindergartens.
Is the Census compulsory?
The department requires all approved child care providers to complete the 2026 Census. Information collected as part of the Census is protected information under the Family Assistance Administration Act.
For Preschools and Kindergarten, while participation in the Census is not mandatory, the department strongly encourages services to take part.
What do I need to do to participate in the Census?
To participate in the Census, you first need to register. This ensures your service’s details are correct and allows you to nominate a key contact person who will receive all Census-related communications.
An overview of the Census phases is outlined here: Overview of the 2026 National Workforce Census
पंजीकरण
When does registration for the Census open?
Registration for all service types across all states opens on Monday 6 July 2026.
What information is collected during registration?
Registration takes only a few minutes and asks you to:
- confirm the service’s contact details.
- nominate a key contact person to receive Census communications and oversee the review, preparation and submission of Census data.
- provide the number of workers expected during the reference week.
How can I register for the Census?
There are three ways to register for the National Workforce Census:
1. Using the Login Code provided in the registration letter:
Providers eligible for the 2026 Census will receive a letter containing a unique Login Code to access the registration portal:
- Go to gov.au/early-childhood/nwc
- Click the Login
- Enter the Login Code provided for each service.
- Complete and submit the registration.
2. Using the link in the registration email:
The registration email includes a unique link for each approved service.
- Click the link to be automatically directed to the registration portal.
- Complete and submit the registration.
3. Over the phone, if online registration is not completed:
Online registration is the preferred option. If your service has not registered online, a member of the National Workforce Census team may contact you to complete the registration over the phone.
What is the difference between the registration Login Code and the registration link?
Both the Login Code and the registration link provide access to the same service-specific registration form.
The only difference is how you enter the form:
Registration link: ए unique, direct link sent to a specific service to access the registration form.
Registration Login Code: A unique code that can be entered on gov.au/early-childhood/nwc to open the same registration form.
What if I have lost or misplaced the Login Code?
Your Login Code was included in the registration letter sent to your provider by the SRC.
If you have misplaced your Login Code, you can use the unique service link provided in your registration email instead. Both the Login Code and the link will direct you to the registration portal.
If you are also unable to locate the registration email, please contact the NWC Helpline on 1800 800 996 (free call from 9:00am to 5:00pm AEST, Monday to Friday) or email nwc@srcentre.com.au
When do I need to complete the registration for the Census?
- For Family Day Care, In-Home Care, OSHC (Before and/or after School Care), Centre Based Day Care, और dedicated Preschools and Kindergartens in all states must register before 14 September 2026.
- For OSHC (Vacation Care) in Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory must register before 28 September 2026.
- For OSHC (Vacation Care) in Western Australia and Tasmania must register before 5 October 2026.
Do I need to complete registration for each service separately?
- For Family Day Care, In-Home Care, OSHC (Before and/or after School Care), Centre Based Day Care, और dedicated Preschools and Kindergartens in all states must register before 14 September 2026.
- For OSHC (Vacation Care) in Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory must register before 28 September 2026.
- For OSHC (Vacation Care) in Western Australia and Tasmania must register before 5 October 2026.
What is the difference between registration and the Census?
- Registration: A short form used to confirm your service details and provide key contact information.
- Census: The full data collection, where you complete all National Workforce Census questions about your service, children and workforce.
What do I need to do in the second phase of the Census, “Review and prepare the Census data”?
“Review and prepare the Census data” is the second phase of the Census. This phase takes place between July and August 2026, before the Census opens for completion.
During this phase, service providers are asked to:
1. Review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), video tutorials, checklist and other supporting materials to understand the Census requirements.
2. Review the PDF version of the Census questions which will be provided in advance and identify:
- the information required for each question; and
- where that information will come from, including who within your organisation can provide it.
3. Gather the information you will need to answer each question from relevant sources, which may include staff records, service records, HR or payroll systems, the Child Care Management System (CCMS), service managers, or other staff. Have this information ready for when the Census opens for completion.
4. Distribute the Privacy Notice.
Should I wait for the Census to open before preparing the data?
No. You should begin preparing your data between July and August 2026, before the Census opens for completion.
Gathering the information needed to answer each question can take time, so it’s important to collect it in advance from the relevant sources. Having the information ready will make it easier to enter your data efficiently once the Census opens.
How should I gather the information needed to complete registration and the Census?
You may need to gather information from:
- Staff records या payroll or HR systems to confirm employee roles, hours, or employment status.
- Service records or the Child Care Management System (CCMS) to confirm service details or enrolment information.
- Service managers or other staff members, such as centre directors or administrators, to confirm contact details or operational information.
- If your service is part of a larger provider, you may also need to coordinate with your head office or provider organisation to confirm the appropriate submission method and ensure the information is complete and consistent.
What is the reference week?
The reference week is a seven-day period for which you are required to report information in the Census. The dates of the reference week may vary depending on your service type, so it is important to use the specific dates provided for your service when collecting and reporting data.
When is the reference week for my service?
The 2026 reference weeks and Census opening dates by service type and state are as follows:
- Reference week 1: Monday 14 September – Sunday 20 September 2026
For Family Day Care, In-Home Care, OSHC (Before and/or After School Care), Centre-Based Day Care, and dedicated Preschools and Kindergartens in all states. - Reference week 2: Monday 28 September – Sunday 4 October 2026
For OSHC (Vacation Care) in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. - Reference week 3: Monday 5 October – Sunday 11 October 2026
For OSHC (Vacation Care) in Tasmania and Western Australia.
Complete the Census
When can I start entering Census data in the portal?
You can begin entering data in the Census portal the day after the reference week ends. By this stage, you should have already prepared all the required information, allowing you to complete the data entry efficiently:
- For Family Day Care, In-Home Care, OSHC (Before and/or After School Care), Centre-Based Day Care, and dedicated Preschools and Kindergartens in all states, the Census opens on Monday 21 September 2026.
- For OSHC (Vacation Care) in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, the Census opens on Monday 5 October 2026.
- For OSHC (Vacation Care) in Tasmania and Western Australia, the Census opens on Monday 12 October 2026.
Is the Census the same as the National Early Childhood Worker Register?
No. The Census and the National Early Childhood Worker Register collect different information.
Who can I contact if support is required to complete any stage of the Census?
If support is required at any stage of the Census, please contact the Census Helpline on 1800 800 996 (free call) or email nwc@srcentre.com.au
Is it possible to complete the Census over a number of sittings?
Yes. If you are unable to complete the Census in one sitting, you must ensure you save your responses before exiting. This will allow you to return later and continue where you left off.
You are encouraged to complete the Census as early as possible to ensure support can be provided if needed.
How will large providers be handled?
Large providers will be contacted by the Census team to discuss the most appropriate way to submit their Census data.
Depending on their size and structure, different approaches may be used to support a more efficient and accurate submission process. This may include coordinating data at the provider level or across multiple services.
