More child care options for families with new family day care services opening

As Australia celebrates Early Learning Matters Week, new family day care services are expanding access to high quality early childhood education in regional locations across Australia, giving more children the opportunity to  benefit from personalised early learning while helping ease local shortages. 

Not-for-profit Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) has supported local educators to establish home-based early  learning services through the Australian Government-funded Family Day Care Capability Trial, with scope for more  educators to consider joining the sector. 

FDCA CEO Andrew Paterson said family day care is playing an important role in improving access to care,  particularly in areas where traditional centres are limited or not viable. 

“Family day care is a great option for many families. Its small group setting allows for tailored and flexible learning  experiences that can suit each child’s interests and needs,” Mr Paterson said. 

“It is fully regulated care delivered by qualified early childhood professionals, but in a natural home environment that  many families value.” 

Mr Paterson said increasing the number of educators is key to addressing widespread shortages. 

“No one can afford to sit on a waitlist, and there’s a real shortage of early childhood education and care places  across Australia, especially in regional areas,” he said. 

"Every new educator means more places for children and more choice for parents." 

Mr Paterson said Early Learning Matters Week was an important reminder that every child deserves access to high quality early childhood education, regardless of where they live. 

"As we celebrate Early Learning Matters Week, it's a timely reminder that every child deserves access to high-quality  early childhood education, regardless of where they live. By supporting new family day care educators to establish  services in their communities, we're helping more Australian children experience the benefits of personalised early  learning while giving families greater choice." 

More than 50,000 Australian families already use family day care, benefiting from its flexibility, personalised  approach and strong educator-child relationships. 

The Family Day Care Capability Trial has helped remove barriers for eligible new educators entering the sector by  providing start-up funding and support to establish their own home-based businesses in regional locations. 

Toowoomba local family day care educator Taylah Freeman said the Trial made it possible for her to turn a passion  for early childhood education into a meaningful career. 

“Without the support provided through the Capability Trial, starting my own family day care business would have  been much more difficult,” Ms Freeman said. “Family day care allows you to form genuine connections with children  and families and create learning experiences that are tailored to each child.” 

“Knowing that I’m helping meet the need for quality child care in my local area makes this work incredibly  meaningful.” 

Family Day Care Australia is the national peak body for the family day care sector, representing more than 8,000  family day care educators and 300 approved services across the country. Information about becoming a family day  care educator is available online, and families can search for local services using the Family Day Care Locator tool.