Whitsunday Shire Family Day Care offers families the unique opportunity to engage your child in an early childhood education and care program, in a small group within a home based setting. Children are nurtured and cared for in the homes of approved family day care Educators who are resourced, supported and monitored by a local and central coordination unit.

Children in family day care participate in a play based program that enables children to learn as they discover, create, improvise, expand thinking and enhance their desire to know and learn. Educator’s value and build onto children’s strengths and knowledge, encouraging the child’s continued motivation and engagement in learning. In the natural learning environment of the home, children in family day care learn through play and exploration. The environment focuses on the connection to the natural world and the interconnection between people, places, animals and the community. Homes are places to explore, interact, discuss, express, involve, relax, connect, engage and be safe.

The service respects the key role of parents and works within a collaborative partnership model that helps children to thrive. Parents are able to choose the type of care best suited to their children’s needs and their family situation, with a choice of Educators and environments, and the flexibility of times of care and location. Whitsunday Shire Family Day Care is an affordable child care option where care is only charged by your “booked hours of care”. Fees are set by individual Educators, depending on the services they provide. The Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is available for families.

Parents make initial enquiry to the Whitsunday Shire Family Day Care office and complete a request for care form with a coordinator. At this time children will be put on the waiting list. The coordinator considers the needs of the family with current educator vacancies. When a suitable educator is found, parents are contacted and asked to attend the scheme office to complete the enrolment process.