Family Day Care

Locate Family Day Care Educators in your local area using our interactive map.  

Family Day Care Educators are qualified early childhood education and care professionals.

All Educators:

• hold qualifications in Certificate III in Children’s Services or in a higher childcare qualification
• have experience in working in the sector
• provide a safe, hygienic, secure and smoke-free childcare environment
• hold a current first aid certificate, anaphylaxis and asthma training
• undertake a National Police Record Check and Working with Children Check
• provide developmentally appropriate programs for children
• represent the cultural diversity of the local community
• sub-contract to Council under a license agreement.

Family Day Care Educators are also supported by Council’s Coordination Unit, who are responsible for approving, supporting, training and monitoring educators. 

Download and view details of the current Family Day Care Educators registered with City of Whittlesea. 

• Ayen Nader(DOCX, 183KB)
• Dorothy Hatrote(DOCX, 159KB)
• Ireena Garg(DOCX, 178KB)
• Raj Kali Shankar(DOCX, 119KB)  
• Tina Nguyen(DOCX, 2MB)
• Vanessa Sleiman(DOCX, 169KB)
• Alejandra Sierra Buitrago(DOCX, 2MB)

 If you would like your child/ren to attend Family Day Care, you will need to register your interest for a placement.

Once a request for care is received, the Family Day Care Coordination Unit will contact you to confirm your days required and educator availability.

 All perspective families are encouraged to request a tour of Family Day Care Educators home before confirming care arrangements. This is a very important step in the process of finding the right program for your child. It gives you the opportunity to see the home, meet the educator, discuss vacancies & fees, as well as ask any questions you may have.

When a Family Day Care placement is offered and confirmed with an educator, an enrolment form will be sent to the parent/guardian’s email. This form must be completed before care can begin.

To finalise the enrolment process, an annual registration fee is charged per child in line with Council's Fees and Charges. The enrolment fee helps subsidise the cost of support and training provided to Educators throughout the year.

Register your interest for a Family Day Care Placement

Are you passionate about working with children and looking for a flexible alternative to centre-based care? Family Day Care could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Work from the comfort of your own home while building a rewarding career that makes a real difference in the lives of children and families in your community.

As a contracted Family Day Care Educator, you’ll deliver high-quality, personalised early learning in a home-based environment - supported every step of the way by an experienced Coordination Unit.

Is this right for you?

This opportunity is ideal for individuals who:

• hold a minimum Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
• prioritise children’s safety
• are motivated to run their own home-based service
• value flexibility, autonomy, and meaningful work
• are committed to providing nurturing, high-quality education and care.

Please note: Educators must reside within the City of Whittlesea and operate from their own home as self-employed professionals.

Why choose Family Day Care?

Joining Whittlesea Family Day Care means becoming part of a trusted, well-established service with over 40 years of experience supporting educators and families.

What you’ll enjoy:

• work from home
• flexible hours – set your own days and schedule
• balance caring for your own children while working
• potential to earn a rewarding income
• ongoing support from a friendly, experienced Coordination Unit
• access to continuous professional development and training
• create tailored educational programs based on each child’s needs and interests
• engage in community-based learning (libraries, parks, local events and more)
• build strong, lasting relationships with children and families
• connect with a network of like-minded educators.

Start your journey

If you’re ready to take the next step in your early childhood career and want to work in a way that suits your lifestyle, we’d love to hear from you.

Express your interest in becoming a Family Day Care Educator.

Family Day Care Educator EOI form

The Coordination Unit is a team of qualified early childhood professionals and administration staff who are responsible for supporting, resourcing and monitoring educators and the service they provide.

The Coordination Unit provides:

• responsive support and information to parents and educators
• mentoring and professional guidance to educators to meet National Quality Standards, National Law and Regulations, and National Quality Standards
• help to all families in choosing an educator
• regular visits to the educators’ homes offering ongoing professional training, resources and support.

Fees for Family Day Care are charged at an hourly rate and are set independently by individual educators under Council’s guidance.

You may be eligible for Child Care Subsidy after Centrelink assess the following:

• your family’s income
• the hourly rate cap based on the type of approved childcare you use and your child’s age
• the hours of activity/work you and your partner do. 

The amount of subsidised childcare you can access per fortnight applies to each child.

To find out if you are eligible:

• Visit the Services Australia website
• Call 13 61 50 between 8 am and 8 pm (local time) Monday to Friday
• Visit a service centre (located in Medicare offices and Centrelink Service Centres).

Before enrolling a child, early childhood services will have to first obtain evidence that the child is one of the following: 

• fully immunised for their age
• on a vaccination catch-up program
• unable to be fully immunised for medical reasons. 

Conscientious objection is not an exemption under the legislation.

Find out more about the 'no jab no play' legislation on the Department of Health website.

Below you will find the documents that cover the fees, policies and procedures that apply to Family Day Care operators.

Introduction to Whittlesea Family Day Care(PDF, 502KB)

Educational Program(PDF, 335KB)

Inclusion and Equity(PDF, 347KB)

Acceptance and Refusal of Authorisation(PDF, 322KB)

Administration of First Aid(PDF, 418KB)

Administration of Medication(PDF, 392KB)

Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reaction(PDF, 386KB)

Asthma(PDF, 335KB)

Child Safe Environment and Wellbeing(PDF, 760KB)

Dealing with Infectious Diseases(PDF, 525KB)

Dealing with Medical Conditions(PDF, 358KB)

Delivery and Collection of Children(PDF, 342KB)

Diabetes(PDF, 370KB)

Emergency and Evacuation(PDF, 369KB)

Epilepsy and Seizures(PDF, 419KB)

ESafety for Children(PDF, 340KB)

Excursions and Service Events(PDF, 356KB)

Family Violence Support(PDF, 374KB)

Food Safety(PDF, 380KB)

Hygiene(PDF, 352KB)

Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness(PDF, 350KB)

Information Communication Technology(PDF, 475KB)

Mental Health and Wellbeing(PDF, 293KB)

Nutrition, Oral Health and Active Play(PDF, 374KB)

Road Safety Education and Safe Transport(PDF, 367KB)

Sleep and Rest(PDF, 425KB)

Sun Protection(PDF, 299KB)

Supervision of Children(PDF, 340KB)

Tobacco, E Cigarettes, Alcohol and Other Drugs(PDF, 331KB)

Water Safety(PDF, 323KB)

Occupational Health Safety(PDF, 327KB)

Assessment Approval Reassessment(PDF, 302KB)

Code of Conduct Policy(PDF, 461KB)

Determining Responsible Person(PDF, 335KB)

Monitoring Support and Supervision(PDF, 340KB)

Participation of Volunteers and Students(PDF, 465KB)

Selection and Registration of Educators(PDF, 410KB)

Interaction with Children(PDF, 354KB)

Child Registration and Orientation(PDF, 485KB)

Right of Access(PDF, 293KB)

Child Swapping Near Relatives(PDF, 292KB)

Compliments and Complaints(PDF, 959KB)

Family Day Care Fees(PDF, 416KB)

Governance and Management of the Service(PDF, 361KB)

Grievances and Dispute Resolution(PDF, 313KB)

Occupational Violence and Aggression(PDF, 327KB)

Prevention of Harassment and Bullying(PDF, 309KB)

Privacy and Confidentiality(PDF, 636KB)

Family Day Care is a type of childcare where children are cared for in a qualified educator’s home, in a small group setting. It offers a warm, home-like environment while still supporting children’s learning and development.

Family Day Care follows the same government standards and quality requirements as childcare centres. This means children receive the same focus on safety, learning, and development, with services regularly checked to make sure they meet national standards. Find out more information on the National Quality Framework.

In Family Day Care, your child is cared for by a qualified educator in their own home, rather than in a larger centre. Groups are small, with no more than four children under school age at a time.

Educators may also care for up to three school-aged children before and after school or during school holidays. This smaller setting allows for more individual attention.

Educators are supported by a local service that regularly checks in, helps monitor each child’s development, and makes sure high standards of care and education are maintained.

Yes, educators must hold a minimum of Certificate III of Early Childhood Education and Care. Other qualifications and training, such as child protection, child safety training, first aid are also required. 

Each educator is supported by a Family Day Care Coordinator who:

• conducts regular home visits (both scheduled and unannounced)
• observes interactions, supervision, and the learning environment
• provides guidance and feedback to maintain quality practice
• monitor compliance and safety checks.

Educators must continuously meet requirements required by law, including:

• current WWCC for Educators and all household members 18 years and over
• regular police check for Educators and all household members 18 years and over
• maintaining safe environments
• following policies and procedures
• monitoring of mandatory compliance requirements
• ongoing training and professional development.

Educators are required to:

• participate in regular training and workshops
• stay up to date with child safe training, first aid, and education practices
• attend monthly meetings about safety and quality
• policies, documentation, and reporting.

Educators are monitored through:

• program records (attendance, incidents, learning documentation)
• risk assessments and safety checklists
• clear reporting processes for any concerns
• feedback and complaints processes.

Families play an important role in monitoring quality:

• families can raise concerns at any time
• all complaints are taken seriously and followed up
• services follow child-safe practices to ensure transparency and accountability.

Educators are part of a regulated system that ensures children’s safety, wellbeing, and quality learning at all times.

Family Day Care services follow a range of policies and procedures to support children’s safety, health, and wellbeing. These cover areas such as administering medication, safe sleep and rest, nutrition, programming and sun protection.

All educators are required to follow these policies. You can view our full list of policies and procedures on this page under Family Day Care policies.

Typically, a packed lunch and snacks, water bottle, and a SunSmart hat.

Each day includes:

• play-based learning
• meal and rest opportunities
• outdoor play
• routines tailored to children’s needs
• reflection on program to adjust to suit each child's strengths, interests and needs.

With parents permission, educators may offer exciting opportunities to be part of the community through regular excursions to playgroups, local parks, libraries, and special community events.

Yes, all programs follow the Victorian Early Years Learning Framework, supporting:

• social and emotional development
• communication skills
• independence and confidence.

Yes, eligible families can claim CCS. Visit the Centrelink website to check if you’re eligible for CCS.

Families pay fees through the City of Whittlesea electronic fee payment system from a debit/credit card.

Fees vary by educator. Each educator has minimum charged hours for regular booked care and casual care sessions. Families must pay the "gap fee" - the difference between the fee and the CCS, using electronic means.

The Coordination Unit will assist in finding alternative placement if required. Care is not charged if the educator is unwell and closed the program. 

Yes, homes are safety checked and monitored regularly by the Coordination Unit.

Families need to register their interest for a placement. Once your request is received, our Coordination Unit will contact you to confirm your required days and educator availability.

Register your interest online

We strongly encourage all families to visit an educator’s home before confirming care. This helps you find the right fit, meet the educator, and discuss fees, vacancies, and any questions.

Once a placement is confirmed, an enrolment form will be emailed and must be completed before care begins. An annual registration fee per child also applies, supporting the ongoing training and support of educators.