Family Day Care is a home-based childcare service providing quality care for children in the homes of family day care carers and supported by an experienced local coordination unit.

Family Day Care provides child care for babies and children up to 12 years of age in a safe, secure and stimulating home environment.

Care is flexible and covers full-time, part-time, casual, extended hours, before and after school, weekends and sometimes over night.

Newcastle City Council is the service operator for:

PO Box 489
Newcastle NSW 2300
Phone: 02 4904 3477
Fax: 02 4956 3107

Email: family@ncc.nsw.gov.au

Web:  www.fivestarfdc.com.au

How do I access a family day care service?

• Contact the family day care office by phone or email family@ncc.nsw.gov.au to be placed on the waiting list
• The family day care scheme allocates child placements based on the Commonwealth Government's Priority of Access guidelines
• Families on the waiting list are encouraged to maintain regular contact with the coordination unit so that appropriate placements can be made as soon as possible
• When a vacancy which meets the family’s needs becomes available, the coordination unit provides the contact details to the family
• The family interviews the carer/s at a mutually convenient time. If the placement is suitable the carer and family sign a contract of days and hours
• The family must then complete the enrolment procedure by completing forms at the family day care office.

Who are the Coordination Unit?

The coordination unit is made up of a coordinator and child development officers who are early childhood trained. The coordination unit performs the day to day functions and operations of the scheme. They take care of:

• Educator recruitment
• Training
• Monitoring the care provided by regularly visiting the carer
• Manages child enrolment and placement
• Provides information and feedback to families
• Supports the care of children
• Provides the necessary administration facilities to process Childcare Benefit on behalf of families.

Who are the Educators?

Educators are self employed individuals who are registered with the scheme to provide childcare in their own homes. All Educators must have:

• A current first aid certificate
• A working with children clearance for all adults in the home
• Public liability insurance
• A safe and clean environment
• Space for indoor and outdoor play.

Family day care educators take responsibility for the care, nurturing, education and wellbeing of babies and children under 12 years old.

Everyday, their energy, commitment, relationship skills and experience in caring for children will ensure that quality care is maintained to provide, positive outcomes, for every child, in every home, every day.

People interested in becoming a carer can refer to and the Educator Application Booklet pdf (80kb), complete the application section and forward to the Coordination Unit.

Recruitment 2011 pdf (24kb)  takes place three times per year.

What do the children do at a family day care home?

In Family Day Care, the children will learn through play and exploration while mixing with a small group of children. The educator plans activities and experiences that suit each individual child, taking into consideration their development and interests.

Activities may include stories, singing, gardening, craft, playdough, group games or a visit to the park. The activities are as diverse as the children themselves.

What is In-Home care?

In-Home care is childcare that takes place in the child’s own home. Currently Newcastle Five Star Family Day Care monitors and supports In-Home Care through funding accessed through NSW In-Home Child Care services.

Parents must meet In-Home Care priority of access guidelines to access this service. Educators are are screened, provided with in-service training and hold public liability insurance before referrals are made. In-Home care families and educators can access the resources of the family day care scheme. For further information visit: www.inhomecare.com.au 

How is the service funded?

The Federal Government Department of Employment, Education and workplace Relations provide a Network Support subsidy to the service operator based on the actual usage of care.

Families can access Childcare Benefit which is a payment from the Commonwealth Government to assist families with the costs of childcare. The amount of Child Care Benefit a family can receive depends on family income, number of hours of care booked; whether your child attends school and number of children using approved childcare services. Contact the Family Assistance Office on 136 150 for further details or visit their website www.familyassist.gov.au 

Family Day Care schemes are licensed by the Department of Community Services and abide by the Children’s Services Regulation 2004. For more information about the regulations visit www.community.nsw.gov.au 

The scheme also participates in the National Accreditation system to ensure that the quality of care promotes positive outcomes, for every child, every day, in every home. For more information visit www.ncac.gov.au 

More information about family day care www.familydaycareaustralia.com.au 

For further information on Newcastle Five Star Family Day Care please contact the Coordinator on 02 4956 3471.