WHO CAN BE A FAMILY DAY CARE CARER?
A Family Day Care Carer is someone who:
- Is energized by being with children
- Has a genuine desire to be engaged in the lives of young children and their families
- Wants to operate their own home-based childcare business with the support of a strong team of professional Coordinators
- Wants to spend more time at home with their own children
- Can create a nurturing, safe and educational environment for children
- Can provide a healthy and hygienic environment and model healthy practices with children
- Interacts with children in a warm and friendly way and engages them in interesting experiences
- Has the skill to guide children’s behaviour in a positive manner
- Is willing to open their home to families seeking childcare and form partnerships with parents
- Is excited about learning more about early childhood related issues and trends
- Is understanding of the feelings of children and parents in the separation process and is willing to assist children to settle into care
- Has well-developed and effective communication skills with adults and children
- Values diversity and has respect every family’s culture and child rearing practices
- Has the ability to perform the necessary administrative tasks and to learn new skills as necessary to run their own small business
WHAT OTHER REQUIREMENTS ARE THERE TO BE A CARER?
- A current Senior First Aid Certificate and CPR Certificate
- A current “Blue Card”( Positive Prescribed Notice for Working With Children) for the carer and for every adult member of the carer’s household
- Public Liability Insurance for Family Day Care
FACT SHEET - STARTING UP A FDC BUSINESS
http://www.fdcqld.org/downloads/Fact_Sheet_-_Operating_a_successful_FDC_Business.pdf
To Locate your nearest FDC Scheme
Click on link http://www.fdcqld.org and add your post code - this will provide you with all the schemes in your region/area.
WHAT DOES A FAMILY DAY CARE HOME LOOK LIKE?
Every Family Day Care home will be different just as every carer will be different. However, there are certain characteristics of that environment that will be common:
- A place where children feel they are welcome
- Safe indoors and outdoors
- A safe area for outdoor play or have access to one
- Free of poisonous plants in the care area - check http://www.health.qld.gov.au/poisonsinformationcentre/poisoning_prevention/pp_plants.asp for identified poisonous plant
- Sufficient space for children to play in groups as well as an area for quiet play away from the group
- Sufficient space for children’s sleeping
- Somewhere where equipment can be safely stored
- All hazardous items out of the reach of children
- Safe, sturdy indoor and outdoor equipment that is suitable for the ages of the children and meets Australian Standards
- An area where dogs can be separated from the children
- A space where children can store and access their belongings
- Fire extinguisher, fire blanket, smoke detectors and an Evacuation Procedure
- Electrical safety switch
- Safe glass
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO BECOME A CARER?
The cost of setting up your Family Day Care Business will be minimal compared with the cost of setting up most businesses.
- You already own or rent the premises. If you are renting, you will need to have written permission from your landlord to conduct Family Day Care
- There may be some costs associated with making the home safe e.g. glass, fencing, repairs, storage, childsafe locks for cupboards
- Cost of acquiring a Blue Card
- Cost of obtaining a First Aid Certificate
- Cost of Insurance
- When you start working as a Carer, there will be no more transport costs to and from your work, and no more childcare costs for your own children!
IS THERE ANY HELP WITH THE COST?
Carers may apply for a Family Day Care “Start-up Grant” of up to $1500 or $5000 for carers in remote areas from the Commonwealth Government.
Act and Regulation Governing FDC Carers in Queensland
For information on the regulations and requirements to operate as Carer in Queensland click on link below
Child Care Act 2002
Regulation 2003
http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/childcare/publications/
PROFESSIONAL CARERS ASSOCIATION
Queensland Care Providers Association provides Carers with advice and resources to support in their work of caring for children and operating as independent contractors.
Website:http://www.qcpa.org.au/
NATIONAL PEAK BODY
Family Day Care Australia represents all stakeholders of the Family Day Care program, providing advocacy, advice, resources and insurance to the Family Day Care community.
Website: http://www.fdca.com.au/
