Facilitate Compliance in an Education and Care Service

This study material discusses the importance of complying with the National Quality Standards (NQS) in an education and care service. It provides an action research strategy to address the issue of unhealthy food consumption in child care homes in Australia. The report also includes recommendations for ensuring a healthy lifestyle for children and adolescents. The study material is relevant for students studying early childhood education and care.

1
FACILITATE COMPLIANCE IN AN EDUCATION AND CARE
SERVICE

2
Table of Contents
Step 1: Research..............................................................................................................................2
Step 2: Design..................................................................................................................................2
Step 3: Implementation and analysing.............................................................................................4
Step 4: Writing the QIP...................................................................................................................5
Step 5: Reflective Report.................................................................................................................5
Bibliography....................................................................................................................................7

3
Step 1: Research
Selected Scenario: The fortnightly cycle menu on some days includes foods high in sugar, salt
and low in nutrients which do not meet the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines for Children and
Adolescents
It is observed that the fortnightly cycle menus of the selected organisation do not include
nutritional components that are required to ensure a healthy lifestyle of children. The detailed
observation of two weeks has identified the extreme presence of sugar, salt and other less
nutritional components in the foods of children. According to a published report by Nutritional
Australia, it is observed that children should intake plenty of vegetables and diet foods for proper
development. On another hand, the current identified situation highlights the essential need for
healthy food consumption for the overall development of children. In this context, Standard 2.1of
NQS can be defined as this standard looks supports and promotes the health and physical activity
of children. To be concise, element 2.1.3 of this standard ensures a healthy lifestyle of children
and adolescents in Australia. Henceforth, it can be said that this practice does not comply with
the guidelines provided by the National Quality Standards (NQS). In order to support this
statement, section 51 (1) (a) can be considered which ensures active service for the well-being of
children1. Besides this regulation 78, 79 and 80 can also be adhered, which reflect on the
following areas:
1. Food and beverages
2. Proper services for food and drink
1 ACECQA (2018), Quality Improvement Plan, [online]. Retrieved from
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/assessment/quality-improvement-plans

4
3. Quality in weekly menus
Step 2: Design
Action Research Strategy
Action research strategy has been identified as a significant device to enhance the continuous
improvement procedure. In this case, the developed action research strategy has been provided
below:
Selection of a focus: In this step, a proper area will be examined for a better outcome
Clarification of theories: It is observed that this stage of the action research strategy, allows
researchers to gather information from other individuals. It can be simplified by saying that
clarification of theories is a significant process for developing a proper plan.
Identification of research questions: This segment of research action strategy enables users to
develop a significant or a series of questions, which will be enquired in research. In this case,
research questions will be proposed by considering the current situation of food issues in the
selected scenario and guidelines of NQS.
Data Collection: In order to increase the validity and reliability of data about the malnutrition
issues in food products, reports from multiple Government sites will be gathered.
Data Analysis: This step will allow the researcher to extract a better outcome of this research. It
is found that data analysis in action research strategy restrains researchers to avoid statistical data
collection, which might be complicated in sometimes. However, data will be analysed by
focusing on specific questions that will generally identify two significant problems:

5
1. What outcome can be generated through the collected data?
2. What can be improved by considering the applicability of this data?
Reporting of results: In this step, the gathered data will be portrayed to the authority for
betterment. It is found that researchers often fail to execute this step due to the lonely endeavour.
Therefore, the outcomes of this action-driven research will be adequately informed.
Action: After finding the data on the improper food service to child care homes in Australia,
proper steps will be taken as per the guidelines published by NQS and other standard regulations.
Importance and justification for using this strategy
Focusing on the selected scenario, it can be said that an action research strategy will ensure the
researcher to address the issue adequately. Besides this, this strategy will also help the researcher
to develop a proper set of recommendation that might allow the organization to maintain the
section 2.1 of NQS in an appropriate manner.
Step 3: Implementation and analysing
Report on the gathered data
Data has been collected from a content published by the Department of Health. According to the
Eat for Health Program, nutritious amount of food consumption is necessary for a six-month
baby to a seventeenth-year aged individual. In addition, guideline 2 of this program has
categorized nutritious foods into five major categories. This include, vegetables, grain, lean
meats, milk cheese, and any other alternatives. Furthermore, a limitation has also been initiated
by the Australian Government as low added salt, sugars and alcohol are highly preferred in food

6
dishes2. The same has been identified in the existing literature also, as childhood education
service firms are unable to meet proper nutrition guidelines in case of quality and quality also3.
However, an increase in food deficiencies has been identified from the survey report of 1995 and
2011-12. Therefore, 7% increase in food deficiencies have been identified across the entire
Australia4.
In the current context, a high amount of salt, sugar and unhealthy food components have been
identified in the child care home. Furthermore, it can be said that care home authority and
suppliers are extracting a high amount of profitability through this procedure. As a result,
children of this care home are facing massive difficulties as food deficiencies might limit the
physical and psychological growth of children. In order to eliminate such issues, the following
recommendations have been provided in this report:
 Sufficient supply of healthy food and beverages to the children
 Quality of food items in weekly menus should be increased. In addition, it can be said
that quality food service every day should be the high priority of this organization
2 The Department of Health (2017), Nutrition publications, [online]. Retrieved from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-food-
resources.htm
3 Gerritsen, S., Dean, B., Morton, S. M., & Wall, C. R. (2017). Do childcare menus meet
nutrition guidelines? Quantity, variety, and quality of food provided in New Zealand Early
Childhood Education services. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 41(4), 345-
351. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1753-6405.12667
4 Futuredirections.org.au (2014), Health and Nutrition in Australia, [online]. Retrieved from
http://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/health-and-nutrition-in-australia/

7
 An inspection board should be formed that will ensure the quality standard of foods
provided to children
Step 4: Writing the QIP
[Referred to the QIP template]
Step 5: Reflective Report
In order to complete this entire simulation, I have accessed multiple secondary sources which
have helped me to develop a coherent study. In this research, I have purposefully nullified the
primary data as it might inject bias in this study. I have read multiple journal articles to develop a
better knowledge in this matter. However, all of them have not been taken in this research as I
have applied inclusion and exclusion data collection technique. Therefore, content from invalid
sources has been eliminated. In addition, works written in other languages are not included in
this study. Through this simplified, yet extensive data collection process, I have been able to
develop this study in a significant manner. Child food deficiencies have been interpreted as a
growing concern in Australia as a high obesity rate has been found in this context. Unhealthy
food consumption, the presence of harmful compounds in foods and much more have created
issues for citizens of this country. Furthermore, it can be said that children are also facing some
unhealthy food habits that might bring a significant change to the wellbeing of this country.
I felt very nervous while starting this assessment, as it was new to me. I have done prior research
on some topics but no investigation has been thorough at it is. Therefore, I also received some
troubles as I got puzzled while starting this research. Nevertheless, this new challenge has helped
me to develop an extensive knowledge regarding the child food deficiencies in Australia. In
order to find proper data, I have gone through various websites and found that food deficiency in

8
this country is a matter of concern. This increases my curiosity as found some other relevant
facts about the food deficiency in this country. As a result, I have been able to understand the
current food standards available in this country. It would also help me in creating public
awareness in future as I think that obesity is an issue that needs to be nullified from the society.
Prior to this assessment, I was unaware about such quality standards that have been organized by
the NQS and NQF. Therefore, discussion on the significance of food quality amongst children I
have understood about the dietary requirements of a child. Furthermore, an effective initiative
taken by the Department of Health Australia has allowed me to understand specific guidelines
that need to be followed.
In some cases, it is to consider this guideline effectively. On another hand, I can conclude that
this research has helped me to become enriched in multiple ways. I always face issues in
analyzing any topic or matter.
Nevertheless, in this case, I have addressed that my analytical ability has been increased to some
extent as I have been able to extract the significant findings from the state of study. In addition,
secondary research technique has been improved from last time. All these improvements will
surely help me to increase my capability in this topic. Besides this, the roles and responsibilities
of an early childhood educator have also been identified during the course assessment. Finally, it
can be said that the entire estimate is based on the selected scenario that I have taken from the
given list. Therefore, developing an action research strategy by considering this issue has
enabled me to demonstrate a proper data analysis method.

9
Bibliography
Futuredirections.org.au (2014), Health and Nutrition in Australia, [online]. Retrieved from
http://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/health-and-nutrition-in-australia/
Gerritsen, S., Dean, B., Morton, S. M., & Wall, C. R. (2017). Do childcare menus meet nutrition
guidelines? Quantity, variety, and quality of food provided in New Zealand Early Childhood
Education services. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 41(4), 345-351.
Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1753-6405.12667
The Department of Health (2017), Nutrition pubkications, [online]. Retrieved from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-food-
resources.htm
ACECQA (2018), Quality Improvement Plan, [online]. Retrieved from
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/assessment/quality-improvement-plans