Council reaffirms commitment to Family Day Care

Published on 23 March 2026

The City of Whittlesea will continue to support local families as a Family Day Care service provider after Council reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the service.

Council undertook an independent review of the service to examine the changing sector and regulatory landscape, local options available to families, and Council’s ongoing role in the service.

At its meeting on 17 March Council resolved to continue delivering the service and expand its provision with plans to accept more educators into the Whittlesea Family Day Care service. 

The review found that further expanding the service would provide benefits to the local community such as local employment opportunities, ensuring choice for families, extending access to areas with lower availability of Family Day Care or Long Day Care and supporting the service’s long-term financial sustainability.

It found that Council’s service has a strong history of compliance, responded effectively to regulatory changes in the sector, and had consistently been rated as Exceeding the National Quality Standard, which is regulated in Victoria by Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority.

Council has a long, proud history of supporting families seeking more flexible, non-traditional forms of care and education with its Family Day Care service operating for 46 years.

Council also resolved for officers to report back annually until 2028 outlining the progress of the service expansion, financial sustainability, service performance and regulatory compliance requirements.

Anyone interested in becoming a Family Day Care educator can contact the Family Day Care Coordination team at familydaycare@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or call 03 9217 2170 to learn more.

Quotes from the Mayor Cr Lawrie Cox:

“Council is proud to support delivering such a high-quality service for our local families.

This comprehensive review of Council’s Family Day Care service has given us the confidence to know that we can move forward with an expansion and still ensure we are being financially responsible in these tough fiscal times.

As a Family Day Care provider, Council can support children have the best start in life while supporting parents and carers to earn a living, contributing to our goal of making the City of Whittlesea A place for all.

We look forward to seeing the service continue and grow and the positive outcomes that will come to our community as a result.”