Family Day Care settings uniquely blend the comforts of a family home with the structure of a childcare environment. Every child deserves quality care in a place that is clean, secure, and health-focused, with their well-being as the foremost priority. While each Family Day Care home is unique, they all share the commitment to providing a safe space for children.

Key safety features include:

• Fenced outdoor areas for security.
• Proper storage of cleaning agents, disinfectants, first aid supplies, and other hazardous materials.
• Electrical outlets equipped with child-proof plugs to enhance safety.
• Nursery equipment that complies with Australian Standards.
• Outdoor spaces free from poisonous plants.
• Play equipment designed to minimize risks of entrapment, pinching, or falling.
• Carefully supervised interactions with animals.
• Pool areas secured as per Council Regulations.
• Safe transportation practices, with all Educators conducting annual roadworthy or car safety inspections for vehicles used to transport children.
• Weekly, and monthly monitoring and mentoring visits
• Annual auditing of the environments
• Risk assessments in place for all aspects of the environment

In early childhood education, the term ‘curriculum’ encompasses all the interactions, experiences, activities, routines, and events, both planned and unplanned, that happen in an environment crafted to support children’s learning and development.

Educators’ programs and practices are designed to enhance learning throughout the day. Children engage in a mix of educator-led and self-initiated activities, following a structured routine that includes outdoor play, group time, indoor games, music sessions, and rest periods.

Under the Education and Care Services National Law and National Quality Standards, Family Day Care Educators must provide a program that:

• Adheres to an approved learning framework (like “Belonging, Being and Becoming” for Early Childhood Education and Care or “My Time, Our Place” for School Age Care).
• Reflects the approved learning framework in its delivery.
• Is tailored to the developmental needs, interests, and experiences of each child.
• Considers the unique differences of each child.

Educators facilitate all activities, observing how each child responds individually and within the group. They collaborate with families to offer learning experiences that are meaningful and customized to meet the specific needs of each child, incorporating the child’s home language, cultural background, and religious practices into the program.

Additionally, it is essential that information about the program and each child’s involvement is shared with families. The program should be thoroughly planned, documented, and evaluated to ensure its effectiveness and relevance.

Extra-curricular activities are an important extension of the Educator’s home-based curriculum, enhancing each child’s learning experience. Most of these activities take place outside the home, and when transporting children from the registered premises, Educators must adhere to the Scheme’s Policies and Procedures.

These activities are sometimes organized by the Coordination Unit staff and sometimes by the educators themselves. Examples of extra-curricular activities arranged by the Coordination Unit include:

• Play groups
• Special event days hosted by the Co-ordination Unit

All educators contracted to our Scheme go through a strict recruitment assessment and annual re-registration assessment.  These assessments relate to the education and care service they offer and fees charged by each educator are a reflection of their care and education environment.  

It is important at the initial Parent Interview to discuss fees and charges.  Of course, it will depend on the days and times of the family’s contract has to what your weekly fee will be.  To assist with childcare fees, parents may be entitled to assistance from the Federal Government with Child Care Subsidy.

CHILD CARE SUBSIDY (CCS) – Malin Coast Family Day Care is a registered service for Child Care Subsidy. The Commonwealth Government – Family Assistance Office (Centrelink) can determine the level of assistance available by assessing the family income.

For more information, please phone 13 61 50 between 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday.

You can visit this page to find out how much Child Care Subsidy you may be eligible for.

Within the education and care field, educators are required to hold a minimum of a certificate 3 in child care as well as first aid, child behaviour, food handling, police checks, working with children checks, safe sleep, child protection, medical clearance.

If educators transport they have an annual vehicle safety check as well as all car seat restraints inspected by an authorised person.

All educators are visited weekly, monthly for mentoring and compliance checks. They undergo annual audits for environment safety and compliance requirements.

All other occupants within the household that are over the age of 18 undergo interviews and are required to hold a blue card.

The Coordinators are required to hold a minimum of the Diploma in Child care as well as first aid, child behaviour, food handling, police checks, working with children checks, safe sleep, and child protection.

Coordinators oversee auditing, compliance and support educators with training and professional development. They assist families with placements. Administering the National quality framework, service policies and regulations. Engage with community, excursions organise playgroups and community health and wellbeing needs.

The educator will give a minimum of two weeks notice for holidays. During which time the coordination unit will attempt to find relief care to cater for families who require care at this time.

During sickness the scheme will endeavour to place the child with another educator for the period required if a vacancy with another educator is available.