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Family Day CareFamily Day Care Australia Five Year Plan
Map to the future of Family Based Child Care

Family Day Care Australia has launched a new Five Year Plan designed to map out the future of family based child care in the changing child care environment.

The Minister for Early Childhood Education and Child Care Kate Ellis launched the plan which is titled Working for a Stronger Future and said the Government would deliver $390,000 over the next three years to help FDCA implement the proposed improvements.

"Family day care provides a unique and natural early learning environment for children and we're working with the sector to adapt and grow during this time of change for early childhood education and care in Australia," said Ms Ellis.

FDCA Chief Executive Officer Ms Rhonda Bignell said the goal of the plan is to create a path that will provide the highest quality care, learning and developmental outcomes for children in the family day care environment, supported by a qualified and well resourced workforce.

"The plan provides strategies, activities and measures which will enable the family day care sector to take up the challenges of the National Quality Framework signed off by the Council of Australian Governments in December 2009," said Ms Bignell.

The Five Year Plan covers the following six key result areas:
  • Operating framework – family day care will be a consistently delivered sustainable, high quality care and education program that reflects the centrality of children and respects the key role of the parents in their child's wellbeing
  • Workforce – family day care attracts and retains a professionally qualified and experienced workforce (both educators and coordination unit staff)
  • Environment – family day care is recognised and respected for its unique education and care environment
  • Sustainability – ensure the financial viability and sustainability of family day care
  • Partnerships and networks – the family day care sector will build and maintain  effective relationships with identified stakeholders to support the family day care model to deliver quality outcomes for children
  • Image and profile – the family day care sector works to effectively portray a positive image of the service as a consistently delivered sustainable, high quality care and education program.
According to FDCA the plan is already being rolled out: copies were distributed via CD to all members of FDCA with the last quarterly publication and this information is supported by a website which contains a downloadable copy of the plan.

In addition, a communication pack was distributed to FDCA National Members' Forum representatives to ensure they are equipped with information and tools to run information sessions, workshops and seminars in their regions to roll out the Five Year Plan.

According to FDCA local information sessions will be held over the next few months to provide family day carers with all the details they need to help build a strong family day care sector.

For more information on the Family Day Care Five Year Plan – working for a stronger future, visit the Family Day Care Australia website
 
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