Welcome to the website of Central Canberra Family Day Care. If you are considering Family Day Care as your preferred choice of care for your child you find everything you need to know on this website.

You find information on Family Day Care in general and our not-for-profit organisation in particular and the different services we provide.

You can find out how to register and you can even fill out some of the forms online.

You can have a look at our fee structure and work out how much your particular care arrangement would cost.

You find interesting news and some photos on our community page and you can click on the links provided on our links page to get to sites which might be useful for answering any questions you may still have about child care.

VISION

To provide childcare that reflects the warmth of a home based environment and is respectful and responsive to the individual needs of the children and their families.

Central Canberra Family Day Care

"Keeping the Family in Child Care"

Our scheme's vison emphasises the importance of family, the home environment and the richness of our diversity. We believe in the provision of an educational and caring environment that is responsive and respectful of the individual needs of the children and their families.

Principles and practices that best support our vsion and meet the needs of our families and children are:-

• The Family Day Care Coordination Unit and Care Providers will work together to achieve quality outcomes for children in care and their families.
•  The provision of Family Day Care is accessible, affordable, culturally appropriate, consultative and accountable.
•  The children are cared for in a safe environment that is clearly reflected in the practices of the Care Providers and Coordination Unit.
• The scheme has a committment to continous improvment by regularly evaluating and reviewing policies and practices

What is Family Day Care?
Family Day Care provides quality care for children from birth to 12 years of age in the homes of Family Day Care Carers. A Family Day Care service provides care through a network of approved Family Day Care Carers, organised and supported by a professional coordinating team.

Family Day Care provides a safe, secure and stimulating home environment with care being provided for small groups of children. Family Day Care provides the opportunity for parents and their children to develop a close relationship with a Carer.

The support of the local Family Day Care coordinating team ensures that Carers are resourced, trained and up to date with current child care practice. As part of a team of local child care workers Family Day Care Carers work professionally, earning an income whilst working from home and in some cases with their own children and family.

What does it cost?

Family Day Care costs vary from scheme to scheme. The aim is to keep it as an affordable alternative to centre based care and that is why fees are generally lower than in Centres. However, the funding cuts for Family Day Care have resulted in a growing cost-sharing burden for families. Family Day Care through its flexible hours of care without a set minimum of days to be booked regardless of how many hours of care are actually needed, remains a more affordable form of child care for many families.

Family Day Care attracts a higher rate of Child Care Benefit (CCB) which means that families eligible for this Commonwealth Government benefit administered by Family Assistance pay less in Family Day Care. For more information on CCB. Please contact your local Family Assistance Office at Centrelink.

You can find out about the costs of child care at Central Canberra Family Day Care by reading the fee schedule under ‘Fees’ on this website.