Becoming an Educator

To register your interest in becoming an Educator with our Scheme:

When we have received your Enquiry Form, we will email our Prospective Educator Information Booklet to you to provide further information about our Scheme.

If your initial enquiry is suitable, an appointment will be made for our Coordinators to visit you at your home to talk about your FDC plans and further assess the suitability of you and your home to meet the legislative and Scheme requirements.

Registration with our Scheme provides:  

  • Registration with a long standing Service fully approved for Child Care Subsidy.
  • Information on current child care trends.
  • New Educator Training.
  • Professional development training.
  • Play Sessions run by our qualified Play Session Coordinator.
  • Peer support and networking.
  • Facilities to liaise between parents and Educators.
  • Access to our Resource Library for quality educational resources, car seats, prams etc.
  • Promotion and marketing of Family Day Care to the community.
  • Guidelines for administration and fees for operating your business.
  • Support and mentoring by our experienced Coordination Team.
  • Part of a professional organisation committed to providing families with quality child care options.

Being an Educator involves:

  • Having inside and outside spaces for the children to play and learn.
  • Having a genuine interest in working with young children.
  • Enjoying being with children for long hours without other adult company.
  • Providing a warm and friendly environment that gives children the feeling that they are welcome, secure and cared for.
  • Being in good health with the physical and emotional strength and stamina that is needed to care for children.
  • Being able to handle incidents and emergencies calmly and efficiently.
  • Being flexible enough to handle the surprises that come when working with children.
  • Being able to give children the continuity of care they need.
  • Committing to offering your service for a minimum of one year.
  • The satisfaction and joy of being an Educator working with young children and their family.
  • Feeling confident to be able to communicate and work in partnership with families.
  • The skills and knowledge necessary to provide a quality written program for children.
  • The skills and knowledge to run your own small business from home. This includes computer skills, business management skills such as invoicing and receipting, debt management, and keeping accurate tax records.
  • A change in lifestyle for your own family. The other members of your household need to be supportive of your choice and willing to make the changes necessary to your home to meet safety standards and accommodate your daily routines.
  • Following Family Day Care regulations and policies regarding smoking, drug use and alcohol consumption which prohibit smoking, the use of drugs or drinking alcohol while children are in care. For your family this means that you and other family members cannot smoke, use drugs or consume alcohol during your working hours.
  • Your friends and family need to be aware that as a Family Day Care Educator you are being paid by parents to provide a valuable quality child care and education service in your home. The children are your priority you will be busy in your role as an Educator, so the Scheme does not support having friends and family regularly visiting you during work hours.
  • Being a Family Day Care Educator is a work commitment like any other job. Planned holidays and days off require plenty of notice given to families and the Coordination Team.
  • Family Day Care Educators undergo annual Re-registration with the Scheme, which includes house inspections, vehicle inspections, car seat restraint checks, medical checks, first aid, CPR, Anaphylaxis and Asthma updates, Blue Card checks etc.
  • Having a minimum qualification of Certificate III in Early Education and Care or above.
  • Having current certificates in First Aid, CPR, Anaphylaxis and Asthma.
  • Having a current Blue Card for yourself and all adult occupants.
  • Having current Child Protection training.
  • Having current food handling training.
  • Having the ability to use a computer or tablet to read and send emails and process Timesheets.

 

What a safe home environment means:

  • All hazardous materials for example flammable liquids, chemicals, matches, lighters, plastic bags, knives, scissors, glassware, medication, alcohol and perfume etc are stored safely, securely, and out of the reach of children. (This can be as easy placing items in high cupboards or fixing magnetic locks on doors.)
  • All glass below 1 metre (windows, cabinets, tables, sliding doors etc) needs an audit to determine whether or not it is safety glass. If glass is not safety glass you will need to take appropriate action to ensure the safety of all children. For example, barricading off hazardous glass, getting a special film applied or replacing the glass with safety glass.
  • All electrical outlets are fitted with safety plugs when there is no ap­pliance plugged into them. Electrical appliances within reach of children should be disconnected when not in use.
  • All electrical cords are out of reach of children.
  • Your home is clean, tidy and hygienic at all times ie. no visible signs of grease, grime, mould, or residual food.
  • Furniture is in good repair and suitable for children.
  • Wood stoves, open fires, or heaters with exposed elements must not be used when children are in your care.
  • Kitchen and bathroom bins must have a lid.
  • Bedrooms that day care children will sleep in have appropriate bedding, are not cluttered and must good ventilation. You cannot sleep children in a room you use as a storeroom or laundry.
  • Your home should have at least two smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher or fire blanket, and a first aid kit.
  • If you have a pool it must be appropriately fenced and have a council safety certificate. The pool gate must be key locked at all times.
  • The outdoor play area is fully fenced and free of hazards.
  • Fence height must be a minimum of 1.2 metres and be non-climbable.
  • There are no poisonous plants at your home.
  • There must be an area where pets are kept separate to the children when the children are present.
  • Sheds and garages must have locks, and play areas must be free of any dangerous equipment e.g. lawn mowers, old cars, exercise equipment etc.