Appendix 2 | Background information on ECEC and school closures during the pandemic in Australia • providing funding to support the implementation of the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education • regulating approved services under the National Quality Framework and licensing and/or registering childcare services not approved under the National Quality Framework • implementing strategies to improve the quality of ECEC programs • providing curriculum, information, support, advice, and training and development to ECEC providers.40 Local governments also plan, fund, and deliver ECEC. (ii) Primary and secondary school School education is similar across Australia, with minor variations between the states and territories. There are 2 main types of schools— primary and secondary—differentiated by the level of education they provide. There is 6 years of primary school (years 1–6) followed by 6 years of secondary school (years 7–12). Primary school age entry requirements vary by jurisdiction. Students normally begin primary school around 5 years of age and finish high school at around 17–18 years old.41 The latter 2 are owned and managed by nongovernment entities. State and territory governments have been responsible for delivering school education in their jurisdiction since federation. This includes registering and regulating schools (whether government or non-government) and operating government schools. The Australian Government has a role in education funding and national policy. While the federal government does not operate any school, funding responsibility is shared between the federal government and state and territory governments, and national education policy is decided by all governments working together through the National Cabinet. The levels of government work together to progress and implement national education policy priorities, such as: a national curriculum; national statistics and reporting; national testing; and teaching standards. Non-government schools operate under conditions determined by state and territory government registration authorities. State, territory and non-government education authorities are responsible for delivering the Australian Curriculum, including decisions about: implementation timeframes; classroom practices; and resources that complement teaching of the curriculum.42 Australian schools can be broadly categorised into 3 sectors: • government schools, owned and managed by state and territory governments • Catholic schools • independent schools. Safeguarding Children: Using a child rights impact assessment to improve our laws and policies | 45