Family Day Care provides quality care for children up to 12 yeas of age in the homes of Family Day Care Carers. A Family Day Care service provides care through a network of approved Family Day Care Carers, who are organised and supported by a professional coordinating team.

Family Day Care provides a safe, secure and stimulating home environment for your children, with care being provided for small groups of children in the Carer’s home. Family Day Care provides the opportunity for you and your children to develop a close relationship with your Carer.

• Gives families information about Family Day Care;
  
• Helps parents to choose a suitable Carer;
  
• Recruits and monitors Carers and provides them with training, support and resources;
  
• Ensures that appropriate child care standards and practices are maintained and improved, and
  
• Administers Child Care Benefit (CCB) and other government subsidies such ass the Jobs, Education and Training program (JET).

The support of the local Family Day Care coordinating team ensures that Carers are resourced, trained and up-to-date with current child care practices. As part of a team of local child care works, Family Day Care Carers earn an income working from home. For many Carers this means being able to combine earning an income while still being at home with their own children and family.

In Family Day Care, the hours of care are flexible and can be matched to your family’s needs. Family Day Care may be available on weekends or overnight if needed.

Types of care provided include:

• full-time care
  
• part-time care
  
• casual care
  
• care for children of shiftworkers
  
• before/after school care
  
• vacation care

In Family Day Care, your children will learn through play and exploration while mixing with a small group of children. They will participate in activities that have been planned to suit each child’s individual needs, such as story-telling, singing, playing games, visiting the park or the library. They will also mix in larger groups of children through supervised play sessions and other special activities.

Family Day Care staff and Carers are able to discuss any additional care requirements you children may have. Commonwealth support is also available to assist Family Day Care services to include eligible children with special needs.

To enable a smooth transition into care, parents and children should visit their selected Carer in their home. This provides you and your children the opportunity to become familiar and comfortable with the Carer and the new environment.

You can find out which services in your area provide Family Day Care by contacting the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305. You will find the contact information for Junee at the top of the page.

Discuss your family’s needs with your local Family Day Care service - they will provide advice on which Carers are available in your area to meet your family’s needs. You should organise a time to visit the suggested Carers in their homes with your children.

A few points to consider in selecting your Carer are:

1. Does the home environment ‘feel right’?
   
2. Is the atmosphere warm and friendly?
   
3. Are the children happily involved in activities?
   

Also consider:

• Availability of flexible care arrangements and times
  
• Ability to cater for any special needs your children may have
  
• Location
  
• Cost

Licensing:

Most State and Territory governments have legislation and licensing requirements for Family Day Care services.

Licenses specify:

• the number of children a Carer can look after
  
• carer requirements
  
• health and safety requirements
  

National Standards

Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments jointly developed Australia’s National Standards for Family Day Care. These standards set out the minimum requirements that will provide a safe, nurturing and developmental child care environment. Family Day Care services are encouraged to adopt these standards.

Quality Assurance

The national Family Day Care Quality Assurance (FDCQA) system ensures that all Family Day Care services meet quality standards beyond the minimum requirements. All services providing Family Day Care are required to participate in the system.

Family Day Care services set their own fees, so you will need to check the fee structures with your service.

The Commonwealth Government provides assistance through the Child Care Benefit to help with the cost of child care. For more information, contact the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305.

Family Day Care services encourage a close relationship between Carers and families. Regular communication with your Carer helps ensure that both you and your children’s needs are met.

If you would like information on becoming a Family Day Care Carer, contact South West Family Day Care on 6924 1017 or a service near you that provides Family Day Care.

For further information about the Child Care Benefit and Family Day Care in your area contact:

CHILD CARE ACCESS HOTLINE

1800 670 305*
Translator service available

(For people with hearing and/or speech impairment, a TTY service is available on 1800 639 327*).

*A free call unless calling from a mobile or pay phone.

Family Day Care provides quality child care for your children in a secure, nurturing and safe home environment.

  Childrens Services Directory 2008  (Details) | pdf | 520