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FDCA CEO Andrew Paterson appeared before the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care on 10 March 2026, following FDCA’s submission to the Inquiry in November 2025.
In his evidence, Andrew highlighted the distinct role of family day care within the early childhood system and the importance of ensuring reforms are risk-based and appropriate to different service models.
Andrew also emphasised the critical role family day care plays in supporting access and equity, particularly for families needing flexible hours, culturally responsive care, or services in regional and smaller communities.
The Committee’s questioning reflected strong interest in exploring whether current regulatory settings are delivering the intended outcomes across the sector. FDCA emphasised that while strong standards are essential and child safety is paramount, the cumulative impact of reforms can place significant pressure on both approved services and family day care educators, and policy makers must recognise the intersection between safety, quality, administrative burden and viability.
FDCA reaffirmed its commitment to working with governments to strengthen child safety while ensuring family day care remains a viable and accessible option for families.
Registrations are officially open for National Family Day Care Week!
This year National Family Day Care Week will be celebrated from 4-10 May, and we’re inviting all FDCA members to join in the festivities by hosting their own celebratory picnic.
As a special bonus, the first 200 FDCA members who register their National Family Day Care Week Picnic before 29 March will receive a FREE National Family Day Care Week Picnic Pack.
Your FREE National Family Day Care Week Picnic Pack will include:
To register your National Family Day Care Week Picnic, click here, making sure to include your FDCA membership number in the registration form.
To find out more about National Family Day Care Week, click here.
The Early Childhood Education and Care Qualification Review is currently inviting family day care educators and services to share their feedback on draft training products for both the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, as part of the public consultation phase of the review.
The consultation forms part of the public review process aimed at improving training products, delivery and outcomes across the sector. Input from the family day care sector is important to ensure that future training reflects the unique skills, knowledge and relationships that underpin quality family day care practice.
There are several ways to provide feedback:
For more information, to complete the surveys or register for workshops, visit the Early Childhood Education and Care Qualification Review website.
Feedback is open until Sunday 31 May 2026.
The Department of Education has declared a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) period of emergency in the Northern Territory due to the impact of flooding.
The CCS period of emergency was applied from 11 to 20 February 2026 in the following local government areas:
If you closed your service, the approved provider should contact the Australian Government Department of Education through the Provider Entry Point (PEP) or third-party software and also contact your state or territory regulatory authority.
The following support is available in affected regions during the CCS period of emergency:
Note: a gap fee waiver is a type of provider discount. Approved providers must report the type and amount of prescribed discounts in session reports if they have been applied for the session.
Click here for more information about support during a CCS period of emergency.
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