In home care is a government-approved national program that helps eligible families access flexible child care in their own homes when other options are not available or appropriate. These families may work non-standard or variable hours, live in a geographically isolated area away from other types of approved care; or have complex or challenging needs.
The support agency's role is to:
- Assess families’ suitability for in home care
- Connect families with in home care services and educators
- Provide referrals to other approved child care support services
- Create and review Family Management Plans with each family
- Advocate for families
- Monitor the provision of in home care services
- Provide guidance, resources and professional development to educators
- Provide a support forum to educators in each state and territory
- Handle complaints from services, educators and families
How it works
Email us to submit an expression of interest, or to enquire about the program.
We’ll work with each family to assess their application and develop a Family Management Plan. The Family Management Plan is a document capturing the family’s child care requirements, including each child’s education and care needs.
If the family is eligible for the in home care program, we’ll email them a list of service providers in their area. Families can then contact each service to find out more about fees, policies and procedures, and educator availability.
All families are placed on the in home care support agency waitlist. Service providers monitor this list and advise when they can match a family with a suitable educator.
Once a place is available, the service will connect the family with a qualified educator who meets their needs. Supported by home visits and regular communication from the service provider, educators will create and implement an educational care program that caters to each child’s needs.
we can refer you to a teletypewriter service.
Your experiences are valuable in helping the in home care support agency to understand the impact of in home care services. If you believe your rights have been violated, are unhappy about a decision made on your behalf, or have been subjected to unfair or discriminatory behaviour, please let them know. The agency also welcomes you to share anything that can be implemented, improved upon or continued for the future benefit of the program.
Our feedback and complaint process is confidential, and you can remain anonymous.
