Close
In November 2022, The Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Cheaper Child Care) Bill 2022 was passed. From 1 July 2023, families using childcare must pay the gap fee using Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).
This change will help the to strengthen payment integrity in the Child Care Subsidy system and reduce non-compliance.
Most families already use EFT to pay their gap fee. Many families’ method of paying the gap fee will remain unchanged as of 1 July 2023.
It is important to remember that educators can still act as agents on behalf of their provider in order to collect the gap fee. However, services must have in place adequate systems of oversight to ensure the gap fee is being paid. It is, however, also worth noting that services have always had an obligation to ensure the gap fee is being paid – this has not changed.
For those families who are paying the gap fee payments via cash – from 1 July services must establish an EFT payment method with these families.
Typical EFT payment options could be:
Some exemptions will apply in limited circumstances. The Department of Education will provide further information regarding exemptions and the application process for these soon.
There are some approved services who have either implemented or are in the process of implementing a centralised method of collecting gap fee payments whereby they collect the fee on the educators’ behalf. Please discuss with your service about how they plan to remain compliant with the law as of 1 July 2023.
FDCA has been funded by The Department of Education to support services, educators and families to transition to electronic payments.
Keep an eye on your inbox and the FDCA website for more information coming out soon!
Get your pen out and make a note in your calendar for Episode 3 of the FDCA Online Engagement Series!
Episode 3 will take place on Thursday 27 April at 6.00pm (AEST) and examine the topic of Wellbeing in Family Day Care. This episode will cover topics such as improving work/life balance, children’s wellbeing, separating home and work life and when and where to seek help for your wellbeing.
Guests that will be joining our host, FDCA Advocacy and Engagement Manager Michael Farrell include, Be You Consultant, Maria Heenan, Bright Sun Family Day Care Coordinator/Educational Leader and 2021 Coordinator of the Year National Finalist, Mariam Shahid and Adventure Patch Family Day Care Educator and 2022 Educator of the Year National Finalist Sue Higgs.
You can watch the panel live via the FDCA website, FDCA Facebook Page and FDCA YouTube channel.
Submit your questions
To help us cover as much relevant content as possible, we want you to be part of the conversation by submitting your questions for our panelists.
If you would like to submit a question, click here.
Help frame the conversation!
To help frame the conversation we want you to share your insights and ideas on how you manage your wellbeing.
To help drive the conversation and share your insights, take part in our Mentimeter Quiz in the lead up to the episode by clicking here.
Can’t make it on the night?
If you can’t make the session on the night, don’t worry! The recording will remain on the FDCA website for members to access afterwards.
National Families Week is celebrated each year from May 15-21, by childcare providers, schools and community organisations.
National Families Week is a time to celebrate with your family, connect with your extended family and friends, and share in the enjoyment of family activities within the wider community. No matter where you live – in major cities or a remote community in the country – all Australians, including community organisations, schools, councils, companies and individuals are invited to participate in National Families Week each year.
The aim of National Families Week is to not only celebrate the vital role that families play in Australian society, but to also reflect on the critical role that families play in teaching, supporting and nurturing children as they grow.
National Families Week coincides with the United Nations International Day of Families on 15 May. This day is observed by the United Nations to mark the importance that the international community places on families as the most fundamental units of society, as well as to show concern about their situation in many parts of the world.
The theme for 2023 'living real, dreaming big’ celebrates and promotes the capacities and resilience of families, in all their diversity, in creating strong, safe and connected communities.
To find out how you can get involved, visit the National Families Week website.
The Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) office will be closed during the Easter period from 5.00pm AEST on Thursday 6 April and will reopen at 9.00am AEST on Tuesday 11 April.
Should your family day care insurance require renewal during this period or if you need to purchase a new family day care insurance policy, please visit our website at www.fdca.com.au. If you need to make an emergency claim, details of how to do this are located on our website here.
Otherwise please call our office on Tuesday 11 of April.
We wish all our members a safe and happy Easter!
Did you know that since January 2022 our Family Day Care Locator has generated over 20,000 child care enquiries for FDCA members. That’s almost 1,400 leads for FDCA members per month!
With numbers like this, ensuring your Family Day Care Locator listing is up to date is crucial if you want to attract new families to your family day care business, and with every FDCA member having access to a FREE listing there’s no excuse not to get moving.
To help you add some sparkle and polish to your listing, we’ve put together some easy to understand, short video guides to set you on your way.
To view the video guides, click here.
When educators and services insure with FDCA, they become part of the largest community of family day care professionals across Australia.
Our insurance packages include access to all the benefits of membership to support you and your business to thrive, including:
Trusted by educators and services for over 30 years, FDCA’s insurance packages will give you and your business the best possible protection - so that you can get on with the important job of providing quality education and care to children.
If you’d like to learn more about accessing your member benefits, or to simply have a chat with our friendly support staff, please call us on 1800 659 699 or send us an enquiry at enquiries@fdca.com.au.
Do you have a story to tell?
FDCA is on the hunt for submissions for upcoming editions of JiGSAW magazine.
Do you have a programming or curriculum success story that you would like to share with the sector? Perhaps you’re a service that would like to share a story about the achievements of your educators or staff?
Have you been on an exciting excursion or had an enthralling incursion that you would like to share? Or maybe you have your own unique story that you think JiGSAW readers could take inspiration from!
If you would like to contribute to an upcoming edition of JiGSAW, send us an email at marketing@fdca.com.au with a short description of your story.
To view the most recent edition of JiGSAW, click here to access your FDCA Member Zone.
.svg)
