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The BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) in partnership with Family Day Care Australia (FDCA), is proud to support the establishment of Family Day Care businesses across Moranbah and Dysart. This unique opportunity is available to any non-BMA employee who is a resident of a BMA house (i.e. the partner/ spouse of a BMA employee) to start a Family Day Care business with support provided by BMA and Family Day Care Australia.
This opportunity will see BMA, FDCA and an approved family day care service support approved applicants to become fully qualified family day care early education professionals and run their own family day care business.
As a family day care educator, not only will you have the freedom of working from the comfort of your own home, but you will also take control of your career and can build a business that fits with your family and your lifestyle, offering a much-needed early education and care solution for your community.
This support will include:
Home set up and maintenance
BMA will fund reasonable maintenance required to ensure the approved BMA property of the applicant meets the required National Standards to provide family day care.
Start-up grants
This grant will assist in the approved applicant by funding the resources required to start their new business.
Blue Card and Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC)
Approved applicants will have their Blue Card and NCCHC fees covered by BMA.
Training
BMA will fully fund the approved applicant’s training through an accredited Certificate III in Early Education and Care as well as accredited First Aid Training.
FDCA Membership
Approved applicants will also have their FDCA membership included, meaning they will have access to a wide range of free learning and professional development resources, along with promotional resources to support their family day care business.
Family day care is a type of early childhood education and care approved under the National Quality Framework and has been operating in Australia for close to 50 years.
Family day care educators register with approved family day care services who conduct regular home visits, providing them with ongoing support, including help to meet the initial requirements, induction and training and policies and procedures to guide programming and practice. BMA and FDCA will work closely with educators and their service to ensure they are fully supported in their journey.
Family day care educators educate and care for small groups of children within their home – up to four children under school age and an additional three children of school age for outside of school hours care.
Unlike other forms of early childhood education and care, family day care educators run their own businesses, giving them the freedom to offer standard hours care, before and after school care, weekend and even overnight care, from the safety and warmth of their own home.
Family day care operates under the same National Quality Framework as other forms of approved early childhood education and care, including the National Law and Regulations, the National Quality Standard, Approved Early Years Learning Frameworks and a robust assessment and ratings process.
To place an expression of interest, click here or on the button below. You can also contact FDCA National Recruitment Manager Damon Somerfield on 0499 207 801 or damon.somerfield@fdca.com.au.
I’m interested in starting a family day care business but don’t know what to do next?
If you’d like to understand more about this opportunity, please complete an expression of interest by scanning the QR code at the top of this page or contact FDCA National Recruitment Manager Damon Somerfield on 0499 207 801 or damon.somerfield@fdca.com.au.
I know nothing about family day care – can I still be considered?
Yes, anyone who is interested in working in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and starting a family day care business may be considered for this program. No prior experience in childcare is necessary as the program will provide funding and support to enable you to achieve your Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care as well as other required qualifications and training. This will ensure you’re well placed to start a family day care business.
FDCA will undertake initial screening to determine your eligibility and suitability for family day care. This will include a Blue Card (i.e. working with children check) and a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC), as well as a home inspection.
I live in a BMA house. Am I eligible?
Initial eligibility will be limited to those that are living in 4-bedroom BMA houses. If you are living in a different sized BMA house and you are interested in starting a family day care business, then you are welcome to also express your interest. The final decision on whether you are suitable to participate in this project will be made based on a range of factors including housing size and suitability. The project can assess your request and advise further if the BMA property you live in can be included in this project as well.
How many children would I need to look after? And can they include my own?
An individual family day care educator can care for up to seven children at any one time, with a maximum of four children under school age.
If an educator has their own children, they are included in these ratios. Limits do apply on how many relatives in care an educator has over a two-week period, and more information on the specific details of the regulations that apply regarding care for relatives can be provided as needed.
Is there any financial support available?
BMA will support the establishment of your family day care business by providing:
What happens if my partner no longer works for BMA? What if they are made redundant?
If your partner no longer works for BMA, and therefore no longer has access to a BMA property, then the family day care business will need to cease at the property as well. However, you may be able to transfer your business to a new location to re-start your business elsewhere.
This would also apply if your partner were made redundant. BMA would work with you on a case-by-case basis at the time to determine specific requirements.
What happens if I start the training and decide I don’t like it?
If you decide you no longer wish to continue with the family day care journey, you may opt out of the program at any time prior to a contract being signed.
The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is self-paced and competency based. Students will obtain credits for each unit completed and if you do not progress with the whole course or withdraw at any point you will be given credits for units completed which can be later used if you choose to reistart your study.
What happens if the BMA property I live in is not considered suitable for a family day care business?
If the BMA property you currently reside in cannot be brought up to the standards required for a family day care business for any reason, but you’re still interested in participating in the program, then BMA will seek to find you an alternative BMA property for this purpose. This will be dependent on the availability of an alternative BMA property and is not a guarantee, but the best efforts will be made to try and find you a residence that can be utilised for this purpose.
What help can I get with knowing how to run a family day care business?
FDCA’s National Recruitment Manager will be a dedicated contact to support you throughout the training and approval process.
Once you pass the initial checks, you will choose an Australian Government approved family day care service that services your local area and will be able to support you through the day-to-day operations and approvals processes. They will provide guidance and support, assist with ensuring the business is operating appropriately and monitor progress.
Through your membership with FDCA you will also have access to a range of member benefits and resources that will help support you in the day-to-day running of your business. More information can be found at www.fdca.com.au.
BMA has also supported the Childcare Leadership Alliance, which is an industry-wide body supporting the childcare sector across Dysart and Moranbah, which will be able to connect you with a local network of family day care educators and broader childcare service providers, to help you feel well-connected and supported.
My partner is on night shift and needs to sleep during the day. How do I manage that?
It will be the responsibility of the BMA employee to ensure that they are well rested and suitably ready to work for the start of each shift. You will need to manage this in accordance with standard Fatigue Management Processes.
On that basis you will need to consider carefully if running a family day care business is a suitable option for both you and your partner.
What happens if something is broken in the house and it needs to be repaired?
The BMA Housing Maintenance team will continue to support the repair and maintenance requirements of the property in the same way that they would manage any other BMA property. You can reach out to the maintenance team to request maintenance and repair work by contacting 1800 772 061 Option 1.
If the maintenance or repair relates to specific safety requirements within the property that are due to the family day care operation, then this will be the responsibility of the family day care business to address.
Do I need to only take on BMA families in my family day care business?
No, you will be free to offer your service to any families you choose. This will be your business to run and operate, so selection of families that engage your services will be your decision to make.
What happens if we have visitors come to stay at the house while I’m running the family day care business?
Yes, you can have visitors and family members come and stay. The family day care service provider you become registered with will supply all policies and procedures involved in running your family day care business. Included in this will be how you manage visitors (including tradespersons) and the policy around regular family members who might be in the property. Adult household members that reside at the property must have a Blue Card and potentially a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC), if required by the service you become registered with.
Our lease agreement states that a business cannot be operated from our BMA property. How will this program comply with this?
If you’re successful in progressing through the program and completing all related screening checks, study and other requirements, then a new Tenancy Agreement will be entered into to reflect the updated terms associated with running a family day care business.
How long will it take before I can start my business?
This will depend on several factors, including whether you need to complete your Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (or if you already have it), which course you opt for (i.e. the intensive 6-9 month or the standard 12-month Certificate III), as well as any housing upgrades or other required steps. A guide timeline of key activities is as follows:
As such, on average, the process for someone who is not qualified in ECEC would take a minimum of 8-12 months.
Those applying who have already qualified in Early Childhood Education and Care, the process could be completed in 2-3 months or even sooner.
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