Family Day Care

Family Day Care is a quality home-based child care service that’s been actively helping Australian families for over 30 years. The Infants’ Home was the first non-government organisation to facilitate Family Day Care in NSW and continues to be a leader in the field.

Family Day Care provides care and education in a warm, safe, secure and stimulating home environment. The carers work from their own homes, offering varied hours of care to children aged six weeks to 12 years of age. A significant benefit of Family Day Care is the flexible hours which may include; standard hours, before/after school, school holidays and in some circumstances, overnight and weekends.

The Family Day Care services are fully accredited with the National Childcare Accreditation Council. They are licensed and regulated by the Department of Community Services (DoCS) and implement the NSW Curriculum Framework.

Family Day Care carers work with small groups of children (usually four or five under school age). Planning experiences and activities for children is based on the individual interests and preferences of the children. Experiences provided help children grow and learn through exciting and challenging play opportunities in an intimate, secure, and family-friendly home environment.

The Infants’ Home as the sponsor of Family Day Care provides regular playgroup sessions for carers and children. Playgroups are organised and supervised by qualified early childhood staff who support and resource carers through access to a toy library, information on child development and modelling high quality interactions and teaching skills. Frequent home visits, an extensive toy and equipment library, regular newsletters and play sessions with a bus collection service ensure carers have everything they need to deliver a nurturing and excellent early childhood experience to the children in their care. Family Day Care also provides an integrated service for children with additional needs.

Through the coordination unit, The Infants’ Home facilitates and supports a network of approved and registered self-employed carers who work with a professional coordination team. A high standard of excellence is maintained across the network. Carers are recruited, trained and resourced by the coordination unit, which also supports and monitors individual carer services. The resourcing and back-up support provided by the coordination unit sets Family Day Care apart from sole carers and nanny services.

Family Day Care carers are people whose personal qualities reflect community diversity – of families, values and cultures – empathy, warmth, flexibility, professionalism and maturity. With access to continued learning and leading thinking in child care, Family Day Care carers have access to the most unique training structure within the child care sector.

Family Day Care Carers are:

• Skilled and experienced in caring for children
• Self-employed – running their own business that is registered with The Infants’ Home
• Registered, licensed and accredited through The Infants’ Home
• Assisted and supported by a highly qualified and experienced coordination unit employed by The Infants’ Home
• Operating out of welcoming homes that provide a safe, homely learning environment for children.

Fees

Family Day Care fees are competitive. Eligible families can access Child care Benefit and tax rebates to assist with fees.

Downloads:

• Want to be a Carer – small_business_opportunity_08.pdf
• FDC Waiting List Form – Request_for_care_FDC.pdf
• FDC Parent Handbook – FDC_Parent_Handbook_Feb_2008.pdf
• Latest FDC newsletter – FDC_Newsletter_Jan_09.pdf