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Yesterday the Western Australian Community Services Minister Simone McGurk announced new regulatory measures that will be introduced in Western Australia (WA) for family day care services and educators operating from residences with swimming pools, spas or water features. The changes announced by Minister McGurk are a response to recommendations handed down at the completion of a 2018 coronial inquest into the tragic death of Lachlan Mitchell, who drowned at a WA family day care service in 2015.
Minister McGurk announced the following measures applying to WA educators:
FDCA has spoken with Minister McGurk directly on a number of occasions over recent years relating to appropriate regulatory responses to the tragic incident leading to Lachlan’s death and, as WA members are well aware, the sector has already responded across the state to strengthen practice, equipment and environments over this period for residences with a pool, spa or water feature with a range of improved safety and oversight measures.
However, several of the announced measures do not currently reflect the position FDCA previously put forward in a submission to the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement: FDC residences with pools, spas and water features in WA in 2019 nor our submission to Minister McGurk in 2019.
FDCA will continue to engage with the sector and the WA Government on the issues and will keep members informed of progress as it arises.
Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) is aware of concerns from some educator members in South Australia (SA) in relation to negative media regarding the state government’s ongoing ‘market engagement’ process, which involves scoping the potential for shifting the provision of family day care in SA to an alternative approved provider.
Please be assured that FDCA has been a part of the market engagement consultation process since July 2019 and remains confident that the commitment of the SA Government to the family day care sector is strong. The market engagement process has been, to date, transparent and robust.
FDCA continues to liaise with the SA Government on this matter and we will keep our members informed of outcomes as they arise.
If you have any specific concerns regarding the ongoing market engagement process please contact us at enquiries@fdca.com.au.
Whether you are an educator, coordination unit staff member or an approved provider, make sure your voice is heard in a significant new study exploring what leadership looks like in a family day care context. While there are a growing number of studies looking at leadership in schools and centre-based early childhood education and care services, there have been very few studies of leadership in Australian family day care – until now!
This study is your chance to participate in vital research focusing specifically on the family day care sector and we strongly encourage all of our members to take part. The survey is quick and easy to complete and doesn’t require you to give your name. Thank you to all the services and educators who have already taken the time to share your views.
Complete and submit the online survey. The survey asks questions about you, your work in family day care and your views and experiences of leadership within the sector and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Remember to submit your answers at the final step!
We strongly encourage you to share the survey with other educators, service staff and approved providers across your network.
To access the online survey, simply click here.
If you have any questions about the survey, or the vital research it supports, please contact us at enquiries@fdca.com.au.
We continue to be amazed by the ongoing media coverage rolling in on our Regional Award Winners across local and national news outlets.
Our Excellence in Family Day Care Awards have generated over 61 positive media stories across the country so far, reaching over 520,000 people!
Congratulations to all of our Regional Educator and Star Winners for highlighting the unique benefits of the family day care sector on a national scale.
A full list of media stories can be viewed on FDCA's website.
Join us for some well-deserved “me time” as we embark on the FDCA 2021 National Conference. Taking place in Hobart from 28-30 October 2021, it’s not only a first class professional development event, it’s a chance to discover why our southern neighbours are considered some of the happiest people in the world.
As a conference delegate, you will have the opportunity to network with international leaders in the early childhood education and care sector and shape the future of family day care.
Get in quick to secure your conference ticket! Our exclusive payment plan allows you to spread your ticket purchase over 10 easy repayments, but make sure you sign up soon - it’s open until 30 November 2020.
To secure your 10-month payment plan, simply click here.
We understand that many of our members are worried about committing to the purchase of a conference ticket in the current climate. To give our members peace of mind when purchasing their ticket, we are committed to offering full refunds to all members up until 28 July 2021.
This means that you can purchase your ticket risk free!
Visit the FDCA 2021 National Conference website to find out more about:
For more information on the FDCA 2021 National Conference, visit our website: www.fdca.com.au/conference.
At FDCA we know how important it is to market your family day care business, but we also know it can be daunting, time consuming and expensive.
That’s why we’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you, with a suite of professionally designed marketing materials that can be customised to your business.
The resources available through the Market My Business Hub will allow you to promote your family day care business as a nurturing and high quality early childhood education and care option for families, and also as a career of choice for professionals wishing to work in the sector.
Through the Market My Business Hub members can access:
You can even request a copy of our family day care television commercials to share on your own digital networks.
The Market My Business Hub is available exclusively to FDCA members. Best of all, access is included with your FDCA membership!
To access the Market My Business Hub you will need to activate your FDCA Member Zone.
Access and order material from the Market My Business Hub by following these three simple steps:
Once your order has been submitted it will be sent to FDCA and, once processed, your marketing resources will be emailed to you for use within ten business days.
Please note that brochures, flyers and posters are provided in soft copy only (PDF format).
To access your FDCA Member Zone, follow these five simple steps:
Click here to login and enter your FDCA Member Zone.
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