Close
As you may be aware, a review of the National Quality Framework (NQF) commenced in 2019 and involved consultation with the education and care sector, families and peak organisations such as Family Day Care Australia (FDCA).
Following two rounds of consultations and subsequent recommendations from this review, Commonwealth, state and territory education ministers have agreed to make changes to the NQF.
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers relating to the review, and the recommendations outlined in the Decision Regulation Impact Statement (DRIS) produced as part of the review.
What changes are being made to the transportation of children?
New changes are expected to come into effect within the first quarter of 2023, requiring centre-based services to have a staff member or nominated supervisor of the service (other than the driver) account for children while they are embarking and disembarking from a vehicle at the service premises.
The above requirement is not being considered for family day care.
Further guidance for both centre-based and family day care services will be developed to support services to consider how adequate supervision applies on transportation, and what should be included in a risk assessment as it relates to transportation.
Why are the sleep and rest policies and procedures changing for education and care services?
Current data indicates an increase in the number of children under the age of one attending education and care services in Australia. This means the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) is also increasing within the education and care sector.
There are three key changes set to be introduced:
More information
More information on the NQF Review and the DRIS, including the full list of FAQs, can be found here.
Our 100th edition of JiGSAW is available now in your FDCA Member Zone!
JiGSAW is Australia's only nationally printed magazine dedicated to the family day care sector and includes articles on professional development, early years development and behaviour and family day care issues at the national level. JiGSAW also includes educator and service highlights and member competitions.
This edition includes features on:
To access the digital edition of JiGSAW, click here to enter your Member Zone.
What if I haven't activated my FDCA Member Zone?
To activate your FDCA Member Zone, follow these five simple steps:
1. Click here to activate your free account (for the best experience, use the latest Chrome browser)
2. Enter your registered email address (this is the same email address that Family Day Care Matters is sent to)
3. An email will then be sent to your email address; click on the 'create password' button
4. Create and confirm your password
5. Click here to log in and enter your FDCA Member Zone.
As we enter the last two months of 2022 and the beginning of a new year, now is the perfect time to begin reflecting on your policies and procedures.
To assist in this process, ACECQA has prepared a series of guidelines for the preparation and ongoing review of policies and procedures required for education and care services.
They offer a starting point to develop or review your policies and procedures that are comprehensive and current, and offer family day care specific advice.
Whether you’re opening a new service, conducting a review of your existing policies and procedures or would like to know more about best practice when it comes to drafting policies, we recommend visiting ACECQA’s website here and making the most of this free resource.
As the guidelines have been prepared for use Australia-wide, we encourage you to remember any relevant state or territory specific requirements, for example, working
with children requirements.
Knowing that your vehicle is a vital part of your business, FDCA has negotiated a range of motor vehicle insurance policies to meet the day-to-day needs of our members.
Our insurance covers the operation of the motor vehicle for your family day care business, allowing for:
What should I ask before purchasing insurance for my vehicle?
We’ve put together a quick Q&A to outline some important questions you should ask before purchasing any motor vehicle insurance, and how FDCA’s insurance stacks up.
“I now operate a Family Day Care business and am paid to care for children. Some of the activities such as school runs and excursions will involve taking the children in the car. Will you still cover my car under a private use motor vehicle policy?”
FDCA Answer: Yes!
“I may have a number of child safety seats and booster seats to cater for the range of children I have in care. Will you cover all the child seats on the policy?”
FDCA Answer: Yes, but they must be listed on the policy.
To protect your vehicle with insurance that understands the unique needs of your family day care business, give us a call on 1800 658 699 or visit our website.
New information on becoming an Approved Provider
The federal Department of Education has consolidated information about becoming an approved provider on their website.
Click here to find step-by-step guidance about the approval process, including:
.svg)
