Family day care educator requirements in Victoria
Thinking about running family day care from your home? Here's everything you need, from qualifications and checks to getting your home ready, and how Five Stars Learning helps you through each step.
The checklist
- Aged 18 or over
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, or actively working towards it
- Current Working with Children Check (WWCC) and a national police check
- Current first aid, CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis training (HLTAID012)
- Working with Children Checks for adults living in your home
- A home that passes a safety assessment
- Public liability insurance
- An ABN
- Registration with an approved family day care service
Qualifications
Under the National Regulations, a family day care educator must hold an approved Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (currently CHC30125), or be actively working towards one. Many educators go on to a Diploma.
If you're starting from scratch, the Certificate III usually takes 6 to 12 months part-time and includes at least 180 hours of work placement. In Victoria, the course may be available fee-free through Free TAFE for eligible students. If you already have a related qualification, ask us. Some are recognised by ACECQA as equivalent.
You'll also complete our induction, including the National Quality Framework, child protection, Victoria's Child Safe Standards and our policies.
Checks and clearances
- Working with Children Check: an Employee WWCC for you, applied for through Working with Children Check Victoria.
- Household members: in Victoria, adults aged 18 and over who live at your home generally need a WWCC too. We'll also ask about anyone who regularly visits while children are in care.
- National police check: a current check, which we help you arrange.
- First aid: HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting, which covers CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis. CPR is refreshed every year and the full course every three years.
- Fit and proper: the service checks that you're a suitable person to care for children, including references and an interview.
Your home
You don't need a big or new house. You need a safe, clean, welcoming space. Before you register, we do a home and safety assessment, and we help you fix anything that needs attention. We look at:
- secure fencing and gates, and child-safe outdoor play areas;
- pool and spa barriers that meet Victorian requirements;
- safe storage of medicines, chemicals, tools and sharp items;
- smoke alarms, an emergency evacuation plan and a fire blanket;
- safe sleep areas and cots that meet Australian standards;
- hygiene, nappy change and food preparation areas;
- pets and how they're managed during care hours.
Renting? That's fine. You'll usually need your landlord's written permission.
Running your business
Family day care educators are self-employed. You'll need an ABN (free from the Australian Business Register), public liability insurance, and to keep records for tax. You set your own hours and fees, and pay the service a levy that covers registration, compliance, the Child Care Subsidy administration, coordinator visits, training and support.
Want to know what you could earn? Try our educator income calculator.
Steps to get started with Five Stars Learning
- Talk to us. A no-pressure chat about how family day care works and whether it suits you.
- Interview and references. We get to know you and check you're a good fit.
- Paperwork and checks. Qualifications, WWCCs, first aid, insurance and ABN. We'll give you a checklist.
- Home assessment. We visit, help you set up and confirm everything's safe.
- Induction. Training on our policies, programming and the CCS system.
- Start caring. We help you find families and keep supporting you with regular visits.