Setting Up Your Own Business
For most educators there are a number of expenses as part of setting up a Family Day Care business:
- Safety requirements that need to be met in your home/premises which may include safety film applied to low glass or windows, a safe fence for outdoor area, fire extinguisher and fire blanket and locks for cupboards
- Public liability insurance (about $580 per annum, can be monthly instalments)
- First Aid training (approximately $220)
- Working with Children Check for the State/s you will be working in and A Criminal History Check if in Victoria (NSW: approximately $85 or Victoria: $100 for WWCC check and up to $50 for Criminal History Check). Other household members/volunteers are free
- Reliable internet access
- Work Cover Insurance is paid by the Service for Victorian educators and the cost passed on to the educator (approximately $25 per week if you earn $50,000 pa). NSW educators must provide their own.
An interest free loan of up to $2,000 is available for approved applicants to help cover the costs of setting up.
Setting up a Business
It is recommended that careful consideration is given to planning your business. A number of tools and resources exist to assist educators including resources recommended by Family Day Care Australia.
The coordination unit will in every circumstance endeavour to take a responsible attitude to recruiting educators
in the numbers required per location. However no guarantee can be made about providing referrals to educators.
A proactive approach to marketing your business is encouraged as it may take some time for educators to reach the desirable number of children in their service.
Educators are to be subscribed to a software program called Harmony Web, this is small weekly cost.