How to start a day care facility at home

Are you looking to turn your passion for childcare into a thriving business, while enjoying the flexibility of working from your own home? Operating a family day care business could be exactly what you’re after! 

Childcare centres are in huge demand across Australia, so starting your own family day care not only allows you to pursue your dream of being your own boss, but also provides an incredibly valuable service to your community. 

Here, we'll take you through the essential steps and guidelines on how to start a family day care from family day care start-up grants to insurance. We’ll also share some practical insights on what it takes to run a daycare from home. 

So, let's dive in and help you start making a positive impact in the lives of little ones!

What qualifications do you need for family day care?

First and foremost, you and everyone working as a Child Care Worker within your home daycare business need to be equipped with a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.  This is a legal requirement that ensures all workers are qualified to a national standard according to the Education and Care Services National Regulations. 

And as the owner of a Family Daycare, helping to nurture and develop growing minds is something you’ll need to take very seriously. Having a Diploma-level qualification not only gives your community reassurance that you’ll take brilliant care of their kids, but it will turn you into a far more confident and capable Childcare Worker. 

With this qualification you’ll have learned how to create and evaluate comprehensive care plans, prioritise children's health and safety, and foster strong connections with your colleagues, parents, and the wider community. 

And you’ll learn all the tools you need to ensure your childcare business is in full compliance with national regulations – an essential knowledge-base to have as a business owner.

In short, it's a huge key to success when it comes to providing exceptional care services and creating a safe and enriching environment for the little ones.

What are the regulations and requirements for at home family day care providers in Australia?

The regulations and requirements to become a home daycare provider in Australia can vary depending on where you live, so it’s important to check out the specific, up-to-date guidelines and regulations for your state or territory. But here’s a general overview of the key regulations, requirements and other things you need to think about for your family day care set up.

Get approval for your family day care

Each state and territory will have its own version and process of this – but in general, you’ll need to get approval before you can open a daycare at home. In New South Wales, for example, you’ll need to apply for provider approval before applying for service approval.

Finding the right people

In addition to having the correct qualifications – at least a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care – it’s important that you have the right people with you to help create an amazing nurturing environment for all the little minds walking through your door. 

Having people who are naturally compassionate, nurturing, and with proven ability to connect with young kids and work in a team will help your family day care provide the best care possible. You might also want to think about: 

• Police Checks 

• Working With Children Checks 

• First Aid Checks

Safety and security

The most crucial part of your job as a home daycare operator is ensuring the little ones in your care are always safe and healthy. There are quite a few things you’ll need to think about – from dietary, hygiene and sleep requirements, to the safety of the external environment.

Here’s a few examples of things you’ll have to do to make your home space child-proof: 

• Ensure safety gates are put up and latched wherever necessary 

• Safety caps are placed on all electrical outlets within daycare grounds 

• Medicine and household cleaners need to be locked away or out of reach 

• All areas of the home daycare centre have air conditioning, good light and proper ventilation 

• Adequate fire exits and established emergency procedures 

• One worker in the centre must be qualified to always deliver emergency First Aid.

For detailed advice about safety and security regulations, visit the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQ) here, and see the current Family Day Care Compliance Guide here.

Environment

Parents need the assurance that they are leaving their children in a safe, happy and stimulating environment. Consider having an orientation program for new parents and children to introduce them to your home daycare centre. This allows you to answer any questions or tend to any individual needs they may have.

Additionally, be sure to provide parents with regular progress reports on their child, including what activities have been undertaken within your daycare centre, any achievements a child has made and any other points that you feel are important to highlight.

First impressions matter

As a Home Daycare Operator, you also need to be able to perceive your business from a customer’s point of view – and as a place of childhood safety and security, first impressions are going to make a huge impact on your business. Place yourself in a parent’s shoes and consider the following points: 

• Is the atmosphere relaxed and happy? 

• Is this somewhere where I feel welcome? 

• Is this home daycare centre well organised, clean and tidy? 

• Is there anything out of place? 

Family day care startup costs

Startup costs can be difficult to estimate with 100% accuracy, but it’s vital to think about them as a budding business owner. Some startup costs for a family day care in Australia include: 

• Safety equipment and adjustments like locks, fire safety, and switches on power outlets. 

• Educational resources, toys and play equipment  

• Safety aids like locks 

• Staff wages 

• Working with Children Checks and Police Clearances for all adults living in the household.

Is there a family day care startup grant?

As you see above, it’s not cheap to set up a family day care at home, and new costs can crop up all the time. So maybe you’re wondering if you can get a family day care start up grant? 

In simple words – possibly! They are available, but mostly aimed toward disadvantaged, regional, remote and Indigenous communities, or communities where there aren’t many similar services nearby. Have a look at this government website to see if you might qualify.

Do I need insurance for my home day care?

Yes, you do! But let’s hope you don’t ever have to use it. It’s a legal requirement to have ‘Family Daycare Insurance’, or Public Liability Insurance, which covers you if third party property damage occurs, or if a child is hurt at your home day care.

You may also want to investigate other types of insurance, such as property insurance to cover your home, or professional indemnity insurance, in case someone chooses to make a claim against you. For more info, check out this guide from Family Day Care Australia.

Ready to take the first step to becoming your own boss? Contact Foundation Education on 1300 616 197 to chat with one of our Careers Advisors about a career in Early Childhood Education today.

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