Become an Educator Lake Macquarie

If you enjoy working with children, and want to make a difference in their lives by providing quality care and learning experiences from your own nurturing home environment, then Family Day Care is for you.

A flexible and rewarding career ... at home!

Combine your passion for children with the opportunity to create a financially rewarding, professional home-based career as an early childhood educator.

While several models of employment exist within Family Day Care, in most cases you will enjoy the flexibility of running your own business with the support and guidance of our co-ordination unit. Based on the demand in your area, you can determine your hours of work and your fees and charges.

You will also develop tailored educational programs for your children based on their individual developmental needs, interests and experiences.

An exciting change from centre-based employment

If you are an early childhood professional working in a centre based environment, you may enjoy the freedom and flexibility offered by Family Day Care to shape your career and your learning environment.

A new career

With a commitment to training and professionaldevelopment, family day care can offer you the opportunity to start a rewarding new career with the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of your own family.

Family Day Care as a growing profession

With the changing and ever-increasing childcare needs of Australian working families, Family Day Care services have never been in such demand. Furthermore, with Family Day Care’s inclusion under the National Quality Framework and a growing awareness of the many unique benefits of the service, family day care is fast becoming the option of choice in early childhood education and care.

Did you know that across Australia;

• Family Day Care has operated for over 40 years.
• Over 107,670 children are enrolled in FDC with 32.6% in NSW
• There are 11,364 registered educators in FDC with 32.6% in NSW
• There are over 500 Family Day Care approved service.
• Family Day Care is the major provider of regulated, flexible, non-standard hours childcare.

Creating your educational environment

As a Family Day Care educator, you will need to be able to provide a safe and educational learning environment.

Our new educator co-ordinator will do an initial assessment of your property and advise of any minor changes that may be required.

If you live in a rental property you will need to advise your landlord of your intent to operate a Family Day Care service and gain approval.

Things we would looking at during an initial home inspection are:

• Fencing and gating of outdoor play areas.
• Any low glass ( windows under 1metre must be safety glass or fitted with safety film)
• Amount of space available both inside and outside keeping in mind rest areas and play areas
• Retaining walls
• Steps & stairs
• Options for family pets being inaccessible to the children 
• Identifying any dangerous or poisonous plants or vegetation.
• Amount of shade outside

As you will be caring for children of a variety of ages you will need equipment for all stages of development.

Consider organising your play space into play/learning areas

• An area for sand and water play.
• Construction area – any items to build with,
• Empty boxes are great.
• Pretend play area – kitchen, dress –ups, office, shop etc….
• A variety of art / craft materials
• Music area – instruments, music playing
•  A quiet area for children to rest and relax
• Equipment that represents a variety of cultures
• Sustainable practices such as a vegetable garden or worm farm

Places like Kmart, E-bay, Gumtree, have quality educational toys at reasonable prices. Your local library may also offer a toy library as well as lending children’s books.

Five Star Family Day Care offer educators story suitcases to borrow to assist in engaging children with different resources.

Co–ordination unit staff have either Early Childhood, Management or Administration qualifications or experience. They are the link between families who are seeking care, and educators who are registered to provide the care. Our co-ordination staff work in partnership with educators as a team.

Ways in which support is given:

• New educators are visited fortnightly for the first 2-3 months.
• After 2-3 months new educators transition to 5 weekly visits
• Ongoing professional training
• 24 hour emergency on call service available to educators
• We provide all necessary forms
• Marketing Resources such as logo creations, advertising designs customised to your service
• Phone and email support
• Harmony Software for attendance records and CCS
• Fee Collection from families
• Linking families with support agencies as required