According to the portfolio’s 2014-15 financial statement statistics, it was revealed that around 1.57 million Australian children attend daycare centers. If you have not enrolled your child in preschool yet and you are thinking about which is the most suitable daycare for your child, you can start your search by evaluating the different types of centers that exist.
1. In-home child care
Such childcare is provided by nannies or au pairs. If this is your preferred option, be sure to select a babysitter from a reputable specialty agency. You would also need to check the references provided for the babysitter beforehand.
2. Family Daycare
Having your child cared for in your own home is an alternative that you can consider; instead of looking for a babysitter. In this case, your child’s carer must have obtained the necessary caregiving qualification, which includes a Level III Early Childhood Education Certificate. In addition, work with Children Check is mandatory for this caregiver, in addition to having received first aid training.
Only four children, maximum, can be cared for within this setting, under the Family Day Care Quality Assurance system. This quality assurance system provides accreditation for national child care. You will also need to obtain a state license and follow the National Family Day Care Standards.
Based on the additional requirements for your child’s caregiver in family day care, you are definitely assured of much greater benefits from this type of care, as opposed to having a babysitter.
3. Private and community care
If you are looking for child care services that offer the most qualified staff, the best options would be private or community centers. Such facilities are carefully regulated by the relevant authorities and must always be properly licensed.
Some strictly regulated aspects in these centers are the learning systems, the quality of care, food, maintenance of the center and the number of children. Specific staffing requirements must be met, as well as strict teacher qualification requirements.
Since such facilities offer high quality service, it is not surprising to find that many people seek to enroll their children in these centers. This means you need to register well in advance, especially at the more reputable centers, otherwise you could miss out.
How much is it?
Obviously, it would be more expensive to enroll your child in a private care facility than to have a babysitter. However, you must evaluate the actual benefit you get from each option. You are much more likely to reap greater benefits from professionally managed private facilities, compared to less regulated family child care.
Fortunately, you can get government assistance, through Child Care Benefit, to help cover the costs you incur. Centrelink provides detailed information on how you can qualify for such a benefit and how much you can get out of it.
The Family Assistance Office also lists additional financial assistance you may be able to get to cover child care costs. This is an extra benefit, on top of the Child Care Benefit, which helps cover up to 50 percent of your child care costs.