Australia's National Quality Framework (NQF) guides State/Territory government regulatory authorities to meet national goals for continuous quality improvement. Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) commissioned Macquarie University to lead a national study of long day care (LDC) services that had improved their National Quality Standard (NQS) rating over two sequential NQS assessments. This report presents findings from the three phase, mixed-methods Quality Improvement Research Project, which investigated the characteristics and internal processes of quality improvement in LDC services. While recognising the integrated nature of the NQS, and interrelationship between the seven quality areas, the study concentrated on Quality Area 1 (Educational Program and Practice) and Quality Area 7 (Governance and Leadership). Genuine and sustained quality improvement is the result of collaborative effort, and therefore needs to be seen as a shared responsibility. The findings place emphasis on the need for leadership at all levels of service delivery and early childhood education and care (ECEC) policy. In particular, the important role of the Educational Leader is highlighted. The study also identifies priority areas to support and sustain quality improvement evidenced by improved Assessment and Rating (A&R) outcomes.