Family Day Care is a child care service where children are cared for and educated in small family groups in the homes of registered Educators. These Educators are approved, supervised, supported and encouraged by a team of qualified staff employed by Goulburn Family Day Care, referred to as the Coordination Unit, to help them provide quality child care at home.

Family Day Care allows for flexibility of hours and location, seven days per week for full-time, part-time, casual, and emergency care. Family Day Care caters for babies, toddlers and preschoolers as well as older children before and after school to the age of 12 years, in an environment similar to which they are accustomed at home.

The Goulburn Family Day Care Coordination Unit is run by Anglicare and provides support to educators and families. The Coordination Unit arranges the placement of children and administers Child Care Subsidy to the educators on behalf of the families.

Goulburn Family Day Care is ‘approved’ by the Department of Education & Communities (Education and Care Services) and operates under the Education and Care Services National Regulations, Education and Care Services National Law and National Quality Framework (NQF), and an assessment and ratings process.

All Educators hold a minimum Certificate III in Children’s Services or are enrolled and actively studying towards achieving the Certificate III in Children’s Services.

Educators must have the following attributes:

• Practical child care knowledge and experience with children.
• Communicate well on various levels; be flexible, approachable, warm and caring.
• Good organisational and record-keeping skills.
• Be willing to work in partnership with the scheme staff and families.

Educators must also have:

• a current Working With Children Check, including any other residents aged 18 years or over,
• a current National Police Clearance,
• current first-aid, asthma and anaphylaxis management qualifications,
• public liability and professional indemnity insurance for a minimum of $10 million,
• a smoke, drug and alcohol free environment – including visitors,
• a program for individual children’s developmental ages and stages – complete developmental records and daily reflections and observations, and
• a safe playing area for children.

Each Educator sets their own fees, charging practices and conditions in consultation with the Coordination Unit.

The hourly fee for a non-school aged child during regular standard hours ranges from $8.70 to $12:45. The hourly fee for outside standard hours ranges from $8.70 to $15.45. The weekend hourly fee ranges from $10.00 to $14.00.

More information about fees is outlined in the Family Day Care Handbook.

The first step is to get in touch!

Use the Contact Us form at the bottom of this page to contact the Family Day Care Coordination Unit and our team will match you to a Family Day Care educator with a vacancy.

After your initial enquiry with us, you and your child will be invited to an interview with a Family Day Care educator to discuss your care needs and to visit the educator’s home.

Goulburn Family Day Care currently employs three staff at its Coordination Unit office. The Director is responsible for the overall management of the service. The Educational Leader is responsible for the visitation and support of Educators, monitoring of care and observing the development of children in the service. The Playgroup Leader in consultation with the Educational Leader organise playgroup at the service premises three days per week, as well as resources and equipment for Educators.

Director & Nominated Supervisor: Ashley Sturgiss

Educational Leader: Skye Lewis

Playgroup Leader: Rhonda Perry

All staff have current Working with Children Checks, National Police Clearances, first-aid, asthma and anaphylaxis qualifications and undertake a variety of training each year to keep abreast of changes in the child care industry.

It is recommended that you prepare any questions you may want to ask the Educator.

There are many things to discuss together such as:

Your child: Discuss your child; what he/she enjoys, strengths, interests, comforters and routines. It is important that the Educator has a good understanding of your child to assist with the transition into care.

Children’s experiences: Talk with the Educator about the program they provide, the environment and experiences your child would have. Consider the activities, toys and resources the Educator uses and the spaces used for care both inside and outside.

Your expectations: Discuss with the Educator your hopes and expectations for your child in care. It is important to let the Educator know what is important to you so you can have input into the care provided.

Food: Discuss with the Educator your child’s likes and dislikes, allergies and foods you do and don’t want your child to have. It is also very important to discuss the stage your child is at with feeding. Are they still being breastfed, feeding themselves independently or needing assistance with feeding? If you are still breastfeeding your baby discuss this with the Educator and how you hope to do this whilst your child is in care.

Sleeping: Discuss your child’s sleep patterns and look at where your child will sleep. It is important that your child’s Educator has details of your child’s comforters such as a dummy, blanket or favourite toy.

Toileting: Discuss what stage your child has reached with toileting so you and your Educator can work together.

Guiding Behaviour: Families have widely different views about guiding behaviour so discuss your attitudes regarding this issue and how your expectations will be met by the Educator. The Educator will be responding to the needs of all the children in care and this must be considered.

Routine: Talk to the Educator about the daily routine. Some Educators need to incorporate other activities in their routine such as school pickups or playgroup. Educators may also take children out on local excursions. Excursions provide the opportunity to expand a child’s experience, enable them to explore their community and participate in new activities and develop social skills. Families should not accept the care for their child until any excursions are discussed with the Educator and the family is willing to give permission for the excursions. Parents will be notified in advance of each outing. Goulburn Family Day Care has developed a set of policies and these are available to view at the Educator’s home or at the Coordination Unit office.

Language: Language is an important part of our program and children of non-English speaking backgrounds are given support to communicate. It is helpful to Educators if parents can provide a list of words in the child’s home language with English translations.

Discussing these issues is important in ensuring consistency of care and enables your child to settle easily into the new environment.

We would love to talk to you about becoming a family day care educator!

We are always looking for more educators to join us at Goulburn Family Day Care.

Have questions? Email us at goulburnfdc@anglicare.com.au