Information for Families

What is Family Day Care?
Why choose Family Day Care?
Educators Locations
Current fees and charges
Is there a Waiting List?
How do I place my child on the Waiting List?
The role of the Coordination Unit
Playsessions
Meet our Educators

What is Family Day Care?

Family Day Care is a professional and regulated home based child care service offering care for children from 6 weeks to 12 years old.

Educators develop and plan programs based on individual and group interests to promote involvement and learning through play.

An environment where positive relationships, family partnerships and community connection are enhanced through small group interactions.

Family Day Care is highly regulated and complies with Australian Government legislative requirements, state and territory regulations and Family Day Care Quality Assurance (accreditation) through the National Childcare Accreditation Council, National Standards and the City of Canada Bay Council's Family Day Care Policies and Procedures.

All registered Educators with the Service must be fully insured, have a current first aid certificate, maintain a safe child care environment and are screened for a Working with Children Check.

Educators also undergo ongoing training to update skills and professional development on a regular basis organised by the Coordination Unit.

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Why choose Family Day Care?

Family Day Care provides families with a flexible, supportive service to meet their changing needs at an affordable rate.

Family Day Care is an approved Child Care service and parents are eligible to claim child care benefit or the tax rebate through the Family Assistance Office.

Some of the benefits Family Day Care offers:

• A welcoming, home based, nurturing environment
• Individual attention to children in small groups due to lower Educator-to-Child ratios and
• Continuity of care with one primary Educator encouraging secure attachment.

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Educator locations

Current fees and charges

Fees and charges are reviewed and approved by Council each financial year. City of Canada Bay Family Day Care has an independent fee setting with the aim to ensure the promotion of competition and fair trading.

Educators have a choice to set their own rates. As a guide, Council has developed a non-compulsory fee schedule that Educators may choose to adopt. Council also has some compulsory fees and charges for families and Educator. Fees are for each day of booked care, including public holidays and any absences.

Compulsory Council Charges

Family Registration Fee: $85 per family
Carer Levy: $18 per week
Administration Levy (payable by families to the scheme): $5 per child per day.

Non-compulsory Childcare Fee Schedule

Children up to 2 years: $7 per hour
(Core Hours: 8am to 6pm).

Children 2 years to school: $7 per hour
(Core Hours: 8am to 6pm).

Children at school: $7.50 per hour
(includes OOSH and vacation care).

Casual Care: $7.50 per hour
(extra days or hours).

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Is there a Waiting List? 

Yes there is a waiting list. The waiting list varies in length according to the priority of access guidelines and the availability of a vacancy that matches your needs.

There are limited numbers for children under the age of two in Family Day Care, however, when a position becomes available we will be in touch with you.

We strongly suggest that you contact the Coordination Unit should your contact details or care requirements change.

Although we are unable to predict when places will become available, we suggest that you call the office to check on the likelihood of a vacancy a month before you need to start care.

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How do I place my child on the Waiting List?

1. Complete and return the Canada Bay Family Day Care Waiting List Application Form
2. Contact the City of Canada Bay Family Day Care on 9911 6555 if your require a form sent to you.

Unborn babies cannot be placed on the waiting list.

When a place becomes available, you will be contacted by a Coordination Unit staff member with the details of the Educator or Educators available with a suitable vacancy. You will then need to contact the Educator within 24 hours and organise a suitable time to visit.

Upon your decision to place your child in care, you will need to contact the City of Canada Bay Family Day Care and organise an appointment for an enrolment. Your registration fee will be due upon enrolment.

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The role of the Coordination Unit

The Coordination Unit consists of a Coordinator, Child Development Officer and Administration Officer.

Staff from the Coordination Unit:

• Visit Educator's homes regularly to monitor, support, resource and assist educators in providing a quality program and care environment
• Interact, observe and document children's play, learning and development, working collaboratively with educators and families to meet children's potential
• Provide regular communication on children's progress, through home visit reports, notes, phone calls and meetings
• Assist educators by providing them with training and risk assessment tools to monitor safety within the home and on outings
• Provide training for educators, staff and families, including sessions on mandatory regulatory requirements, for example regulations, child protection and occupational health and safety, child development, activity ideas, music and behaviour guidance
• Provide professional resources
• Conduct regular playsessions. Playsessions provide children with an opportunity to socialise with other children in larger groups, educators and staff with an opportunity to exchange information and gain new ideas and resources
• Provide additional resources to educators through our toy library.

Further information on the service can be found in the City of Canada Bay Family Day Care Parent Handbook.

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Playsessions

Playsessions provide a safe, stimulating and challenging environment which maximises learning opportunities for children, and enables children to practice and develop skills, explore and enjoy a variety of experiences and a chance to interact with other children.

Playsession also provides Educators with a time to network with other Educators and staff.

Playsession at Five Dock Leisure Centre encourages children with the opportunity to participate in a gym session where they can practice and develop their gross motor skills such as balance and co-ordination in a fun, safe, yet challenging environment.

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Meet our Educators

Information on our Educators and the service they provide can be downloaded below:

Contact Information

For more information about playing your child/ren in care

1. Including a Family Day Care Information Kit,
2. Contact the Coordination Unit on 9911 6555 or email familydaycare@canadabay.nsw.gov.au.

Coordination Unit hours are Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.