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FDCA was thrilled yesterday to announce our Star Awards Winners for the 2024 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards!
The Emerging and Perpetual Star Awards recognise educators, coordinators and services that are new to the sector or role and those who have shown dedication over several years.
To see our 2024 Star Awards winners, click here.
The winners of the Star Awards represent the talent of emerging educators, coordinators and services and the wisdom of those who continue to give to the sector.
We congratulate our 2024 Star Award Winners and thank them for their passion and commitment to providing high quality education and care.
We encourage our members to keep an eye out over the coming weeks for media stories on our Award Winners, which will be shared on our Facebook page and website.
Gala Dinner Tickets on Sale!
Tickets for the 2024 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards Gala Dinner are now available to purchase.
Taking place at the Parkroyal Hotel in Parramatta NSW on Saturday 23 November 2024, the Gala Dinner will see the presentations made to:
Don't miss what promises to be a night of fun and celebration for the family day care sector!
Discounted rates are available to FDCA Members but be quick as seats are limited.
To find out more and purchase your Gala Dinner ticket, click here.
As members are aware, in August 2024 the Australian Government announced a wage increase for the centre-based and outside school hours care early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce, through provision of a “worker retention payment”. This payment is designed to effectively support a wage increase for centre-based educators of 10% on top of the current national award rate in the first year rising to 15% above the current national award rate in the second year, starting in December 2024 and running for 2 years. These payments will be provided as grants to centre based providers on an “opt-in” basis.
From the outset, the Government also committed to consulting with the family day care sector to learn how best to support their workforce. FDCA is acutely aware that members are awaiting an update in relation to what is happening in this space for family day care.
In summary, FDCA has engaged with the Department of Education on multiple occasions since the August announcement. As previously communicated, our fundamental position is that any mechanism to deliver an equivalent level of support must take into account the family day care context for both approved service staff and educators and the independent contractor model.
Additionally, while there are a significant number of complexities, a primary consideration is how a mechanism may be designed to have surety for educators beyond the current grant’s two-year timeframe, as any changes over that period to modern awards that will facilitate wage increases for employees will not flow on to educators as independent contractors.
In these preliminary discussions, a number of potential models have been tabled; however, FDCA has urged the Department to commit to an open and transparent consultation process to ensure that the concerns and positions of both approved services and educators are heard and adequately considered.
As a result, the Department has recently engaged a third-party supplier to facilitate an independent consultation process with the sector. FDCA supports this work and will connect with members directly, so they have appropriate opportunities to engage in this process.
Keep an eye out over the coming weeks for more details.
The Commonwealth Department of Education is asking educators and services to respond to the annual survey on the Department’s communications activities, including their:
The survey is anonymous and will take around 5 to 10 minutes to complete.
You can access the Department’s survey here.
On Monday, 7 October 2024, the Family Day Care Australia office will be closed for the Labour Day Public Holiday. Our office will reopen at 9.00am AEDT Tuesday 8 October 2024.
All children have the right to be included in early education and care. An inclusive service provides opportunities for children to play, develop and learn together with their peers, forming relationships that are the foundation for learning and fostering a strong sense of self and belonging.
At the heart of this approach is the belief that every child, regardless of their ability or background, has the right to access high-quality education and care, as highlighted by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The National Quality Framework (NQF) emphasises this by encouraging educators to view all children as competent, capable learners who deserve inclusive, equitable learning environments.
Inclusive environments and reasonable adjustments
Research shows that inclusive environments benefit all children by fostering a sense of belonging and participating in high quality childcare. In addition, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) makes it unlawful to discriminate against any person based on their disability, including in the context of education and care services. Approved providers, nominated supervisors, and coordinators in family day care settings are required to make reasonable adjustments to support children with additional needs. These adjustments can include changes to policies, practices, or the physical environment to ensure that all children can fully participate in the educational program.
Making reasonable adjustments not only supports children with disabilities but also enriches the learning environment for all children. Investing in these adjustments can have long-term benefits, creating an environment where every child feels supported, included, and able to succeed.
Tips and Resources for Supporting Inclusion
In line with the NQF, educators are encouraged to integrate inclusive practices into their daily work. This involves identifying and removing barriers that may prevent children with additional needs from fully participating in educational programs.
To assist family day care educators in fostering inclusive environments, ACECQA has developed several tip sheets that offer practical advice:
These resources are essential tools for educators striving to provide an inclusive environment that supports every child’s learning journey.
For information on Inclusion Support Agencies in each state or territory, click here: Inclusion Agencies - Department of Education, Australian Government
For more resources on creating inclusive environment for children and families, visit: Creating inclusive environments for children and families | ACECQA.
Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement - is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year.
The holiday is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service. Yom Kippur 2024 begins on the evening of Friday 11 October and ends on the evening of Saturday 12 October.
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