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Family Day Care Educator

Family day care educators provide education and care for babies and children in the family day care educator's own home under local government, community-based or privately operated management schemes.

TASKS

Family day care educators may perform the following tasks:

provide a range of activities and experiences that are designed to promote physical, social, emotional and intellectual development for each child
supervise the activities of children in their care, ensuring their physical safety at all times
support and guide children's behaviour using positive strategies
maintain a safe, clean and appealing environment for children
ensure meals and snacks provided for children are varied and nutritionally adequate
take children to and from school or preschool
perform first aid in emergencies
maintain records of children's development within identified learning outcomes
provide feedback to parents about their child's day
maintain accurate attendance records
maintain a register of emergency telephone numbers such as those of parents, doctors, police, ambulance and the fire brigade
maintain a daily record of accidents, illnesses and the administration of medicine in accordance with requirements

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

enjoy working with children
able to relate well to children and their parents
able to work independently and as part of a team
able to use judgment to prioritise tasks
able to cope with the physical demands of the job
18 years of age or older

Very Good Outlook for this career!

Interest Area

EDUCATION & TRAINING

To become a family day care educator you usually have to complete a VOC qualification in early childhood education and care. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information.

You can also become a family day care educator through a traineeship in Early Childhood Education and Care or School Age Education and Care.

Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.

Additional Information

To work as a family day care educator, you will need to obtain a Working with Children Check (NSW) or a Working with Vulnerable People Check (ACT). Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.

You must also hold a Provide First Aid Certificate and have completed training in anaphylaxis management and emergency asthma management. Contact the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority for more information.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Family day care educators may work during standard business hours, before and after school, during school holidays and sometimes overnight or on weekends.

Many family day care educators are self-employed, operating from their own home.