Regulation changes for FDC kick in 1 July: Qualifications

Family Day Care educators (excluding those in West and South Australia) have until 1 July 2024 to complete their Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care in order to remain compliant. 

From 1 July 2023, regulations came into effect which mean that new FDC educators must hold an approved certificate III level (or higher) qualification before starting their role in a family day care service. This means that new FDC educators cannot be ‘actively working towards’ a qualification. 

Existing educators who were engaged at a FDC service before 1 July 2023 will have until 1 July 2024 to complete an approved qualification (excluding those in Western Australia and South Australia where this regulation does not apply.)

In Western Australia the regulations took effect at a later date. WA based FDC educators who were actively working towards gaining an approved qualification before 1 December 2023 have until 30 November 2024 to complete their qualification.

In South Australia educators are already required to hold at least an approved certificate III level education and care qualification, and therefore this information does not apply.

For those FDC educators who will not have their qualification in time waivers for staffing requirements will continue to be available. Approved providers will need to apply to the relevant Regulatory Authority for a waiver. For more information on waivers visit the ACECQA website.

More information is available on the ACECQA website, including the below resources.

Family day care educator qualifications:

• Information sheet: Legislative requirements for family day care educators from 2023
• Webpage: Qualifications for family day care services
• Webpage: Actively working towards a qualification.

Readers can also contact their regulatory authority for more information.