Family Day Care

Family Day Care is a registered service providing home-based childcare for a small group of children, aged from 6 weeks to 12 years old. 

It is approved by the Australian Government and eligible for Child Care Subsidy. It is also licensed by state governments.

The service provides flexible hours and small groups with planned programs focused on helping children develop a sense of confidence, connect with their community and develop social skills. 

The Family Day Care service offers:

  • full-time and part-time care
  • outside school hours care
  • school holiday care
  • respite care. 

In 2023 City of Whittlesea Family Day Care was rated as exceeding the National Quality Standard under the National Quality Framework. The National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a national benchmark for the quality of children’s education and care services across Australia.

Find a Family Day Care near you

Locate Family Day Care Educators in your local area using our interactive map

Family Day Care Educators

Family Day Care Educators are qualified early childhood education and care professionals.

All Educators:

  • hold qualifications in Certificate III in Children’s Services or in a higher childcare qualification
  • have experience in working in the sector
  • provide a safe, hygienic, secure and smoke-free childcare environment
  • hold a current first aid certificate, anaphylaxis and asthma training
  • undertake a National Police Record Check and Working with Children Check
  • provide developmentally appropriate programs for children
  • represent the cultural diversity of the local community
  • sub-contract to Council under a license agreement.

Family Day Care Educators are also supported by Council’s Coordination Unit, who are responsible for approving, supporting, training and monitoring educators. 

Family Day Care Educator profiles

Become a Family Day Care Educator

Are you passionate about working with children and seeking an alternative to center-based care? If so, consider making the change to Family Day Care and start working from the comfort of your own home!

As a contracted Family Day Care Educator, you’ll have the chance to make a real, lasting impact on the lives of children and families within our growing community.

This career is perfect for those with a minimum Cert III qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care who are eager to join a team of professionals, providing high-quality, personalised care from home.

Family Day Care Educators must reside within the City of Whittlesea, are self-employed and operate from their own home.

What Family Day care offers you:

  • Whittlesea Family Day Care has been operating for more than 40 years - join one of the longest running service providers within the municipality
  • Work from home
  • Balance caring for your own children with enrolled families
  • Flexible working conditions - set your own workdays and hours
  • Potential to earn a rewarding income
  • Receive continuous support from a friendly, experienced Coordination Unit
  • Create customised educational programs for children that cater to unique developmental needs, interests, and experiences
  • Engage in a community rich program, visiting local libraries, expos, parks and much more!
  • Access ongoing professional development and training opportunities
  • Build meaningful, long-term relationships with children and families
  • Connect with other like-minded FDC educators

If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

Express your interest in becoming a Family Day Care Educator

Apply for Family Day Care

 If you would like your child/ren to attend Family Day Care, you will need to register your interest for a placement.

Once a request for care is received, the Family Day Care Coordination Unit will contact you to confirm your days required and educator availability.

 All perspective families are encouraged to request a tour of Family Day Care Educators home before confirming care arrangements. This is a very important step in the process of finding the right program for your child. It gives you the opportunity to see the home, meet the educator, discuss vacancies & fees, as well as ask any questions you may have.

When a Family Day Care placement is offered and confirmed with an educator, an enrolment form will be sent to the parent/guardian’s email. This form must be completed before care can begin.

To finalise the enrolment process, an annual registration fee is charged per child in line with Council's Fees and Charges. The enrolment fee helps subsidise the cost of support and training provided to Educators throughout the year.

Register your interest for a Family Day Care Placement

 

Coordination Unit

The Coordination Unit is a team of qualified early childhood professionals and administration staff who are responsible for supporting, resourcing and monitoring educators and the service they provide.

The Coordination Unit provides:

  • responsive support and information to parents and educators
  • mentoring and professional guidance to educators to meet National Quality Standards, National Law and Regulations, and National Quality Standards
  • help to all families in choosing an educator
  • regular visits to the educators’ homes offering ongoing professional training, resources and support.

Fees and Child Care Subsidy

Fees for Family Day Care are charged at an hourly rate and are set independently by individual educators under Council’s guidance.

You may be eligible for Child Care Subsidy after Centrelink assess the following:

  • your family’s income
  • the hourly rate cap based on the type of approved childcare you use and your child’s age
  • the hours of activity/work you and your partner do. 

The amount of subsidised childcare you can access per fortnight applies to each child.

To find out if you are eligible:

  • Visit the Services Australia website
  • Call 13 61 50 between 8 am and 8 pm (local time) Monday to Friday
  • Visit a service centre (located in Medicare offices and Centrelink Service Centres).

'No jab, no play' legislation

Before enrolling a child, early childhood services will have to first obtain evidence that the child is one of the following: 

  • fully immunised for their age
  • on a vaccination catch-up program
  • unable to be fully immunised for medical reasons. 

Conscientious objection is not an exemption under the legislation.

Find out more about the 'no jab no play' legislation on the Department of Health website.

Family Day Care Policies

Below you will find the documents that cover the fees, policies and procedures that apply to Family Day Care operators.

Introduction to Whittlesea Family Day Care(DOCX, 837KB)

Educational Program(DOCX, 619KB)

Inclusion and Equity(DOCX, 629KB)

Administration of First Aid(DOCX, 689KB)

Administration of Medication(DOCX, 638KB)

Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reaction(DOCX, 636KB)

Asthma(DOCX, 629KB)

Child Safe Environment and Wellbeing(DOCX, 690KB)

Dealing with Infectious Diseases(DOCX, 678KB)

Dealing with Medical Conditions(DOCX, 626KB)

Delivery and Collection of Children(DOCX, 624KB)

Diabetes(DOCX, 629KB)

Emergency and Evacuation(DOCX, 633KB)

Epilepsy and Seizures(DOCX, 633KB)

ESafety for Children(DOCX, 628KB)

Excursions and Service Events(DOCX, 626KB)

Family Violence Support(DOCX, 634KB)

Food Safety(DOCX, 626KB)

Hygiene(DOCX, 633KB)

Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness(DOCX, 631KB)

Mental Health and Wellbeing(DOCX, 621KB)

Nutrition, Oral Health and Active Play(DOCX, 627KB)

Road Safety Education and Safe Transport(DOCX, 626KB)

Sleep and Rest(DOCX, 628KB)

Sun Protection(DOCX, 90KB)

Supervision of Children(DOCX, 624KB)

Tobacco, E Cigarettes, Alcohol and Other Drugs(DOCX, 635KB)

Water Safety(DOCX, 618KB)

Occupational Health Safety(DOCX, 623KB)

Assessment Approval Reassessment(DOCX, 621KB)

Code of Conduct Policy(DOCX, 629KB)

Determining Responsible Person(DOCX, 620KB)

Monitoring Support and Supervision(DOCX, 628KB)

Participation of Volunteers and Students(DOCX, 625KB)

Interaction with Children(DOCX, 620KB)

Child Registration and Orientation(DOCX, 689KB)

Right of Access(DOCX, 628KB)

Child Swapping Near Relatives(DOCX, 639KB)

Compliments and Complaints(DOCX, 630KB)

Family Day Care Fees(DOCX, 635KB)

Governance and Management of the Service(DOCX, 653KB)

Grievances and Dispute Resolution(DOCX, 629KB)

Information Communication Technology(DOCX, 643KB)

Occupational Violence and Aggression(DOCX, 623KB)

Prevention of Harassment and Bullying(DOCX, 621KB)

Privacy and Confidentiality(DOCX, 882KB)