Representing You

Please see below for the 2022-2023 FDCA's Member Initiatives that fall under the 'Represent' priority.

Understanding Educators’ Exiting Family Day Care

From previous external research commissioned by FDCA, we have a comprehensive understanding of the sociodemographic profile of educators that have entered the sector over recent years and the barriers and challenges they face in doing so. However, we do not currently have a comprehensive understanding of the primary and secondary reasons for those educators that have exited the sector over recent years.

The project seeks to engage an expert, external research agency to conduct a comprehensive survey and analysis of educators that have left the sector over the past two years to understand the key rationales for leaving family day care, which will allow FDCA to develop strategic initiatives that may assist in ameliorating potential trigger points for exiting and/or practical support mechanisms that will assist in educator retention.

Sector Viability Advocacy Strategy - Phase 3

Following on from previous years’ Sector Viability Strategy Phases 1 and 2, FDCA is commited to a continuation of the Sector Viability Advocacy Strategy

There are a number of complex and interwoven factors that must be considered as part of the Strategy, perhaps most significantly, the outcome of the 2022 Federal Election. However, the specific strategies FDCA should consider to assist in mitigating the ongoing decline, and eventually promote sustained growth, are reasonably clear. These include (but are not limited to):

• Reforming the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approvals process to allow more prospective approved providers into the sector
• Advocating for targeted sector investment measures as defined in FDCA’s Election Commitment Requests, at both an educator and approved service level
• Ensuring the family day care sector is well represented in specific attraction and retention initiatives detailed in the National ECEC Workforce Strategy

Understanding Admin Burden

Administrative burden has, across successive member surveys, been identified by FDCA’s service and educator members as being one of the most significant operational

challenges of running a family day care business. Over recent years FDCA has delivered initiatives and support to address the issue of admin burden however the matter remains prevalent in the minds of members and there is more work to be done, particularly with a view to exploring opportunities to ease admin burden through technology.

However, in order to ensure the most efficient and effective responses to the challenges of admin burden, FDCA must first identify in more detail the primary sources of admin burden, including understanding different approaches to FDC ‘admin’ that may identify more effective operational practice, existing supports and potential opportunities.

‍