Family Day Care Capability Trial officially launches

The Australian Government has officially launched the Family Day Care Capability Trial (‘the Trial’), with Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) being appointed as the successful tenderer of the two year trial program.

The Trial comprises several distinct streams of work including testing incentives to promote growth in the family day care (FDC) sector in areas of limited supply (i.e. designated regional “SA2 Priority Areas”) through investment in recruitment and start-up initiatives. 

The Trial will also explore and trial innovative models in FDC with a view to extending on the unique capabilities of the sector to better support children, families and communities into the future.

The announcement is exciting for FDCA and the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector more broadly as elements of the Trial reflect several of FDCA’s long standing advocacy positions around supporting sector growth through dedicated sector-specific financial investment, FDCA CEO Andrew Paterson said. 

“The Trial is recognition of the important role of family day care and is a clear and important indication from the Australian Government of a commitment to strengthening and supporting the sector and establishing the foundation for future investment,” he added. 

Among the Trial objectives are several payment integrity components including testing a ‘sector-leading’ digital attendance verification tool. The Trial will also unpack the ‘myriad of processes’ associated with the administration of CCS and Family Assistance Law (FAL) obligations in FDC, not only to improve payment integrity, but also to identify opportunities to reduce administrative burden particularly through technology and business practice guidance.

Through the various streams of the project, FDCA will seek to enhance the evidence base for, and build the confidence in, future government investment to harness the significant potential of FDC in a changing ECEC landscape.

FDCA will soon commence an expression of interest process with approved services asking them to participate in the trial. 

The recruitment stream of the Trial requires that for approved services to be considered for participation, they must have an existing footprint in the identified SA2 Priority Areas or can demonstrate capacity to service the identified areas.

FDCA will also be seeking to recruit a National Project Manager to lead the delivery of the Trial on a two year full time contract. 

The role will involve consultation, research, development, liaison with sub- contractors and implementation of resources, to support the sector, and a reporting and evaluation piece.

For more information and to apply for the role, click here or contact FDCA at [email protected]