1300 336 345

​Become a Family Day Care Educator

Toowoomba Region | Sunshine Coast | Throughout regional Queensland
Kath Dickson Family Centre
Looking for a rewarding career? Become a family day care educator in your own home!

As a family day care educator, you’ll provide quality child care from your home, with the flexibility to choose your hours and set your own income… and we’ll be with you all the way.

When you join Kath Dickson Family Day Care, Queensland’s longest running family day care scheme, you’ll get all the support you need to set up and run your own business from home. We can even help you gain the qualifications you need to get started.​

Let us help you achieve your dream job.

Give our Family Day Care Coordination team a call on 1300 336 345 or email hello@kdfc.com.au

Fact Sheet: Become a family day care educator >>

Set your own hours

You choose when you want to work, whether it is early starts, late finishes, specific days of the week, evenings or weekends.

Set your own income

You can set your hourly rate (within certain guidelines) and choose what you offer families in terms of food, nappies, or excursions.

Ongoing support visits

You will receive regular support, mentoring, and wellbeing visits by your appointed Kath Dickson Family Day Care Coordinator.

Frequently asked questions

How can I become a family day care educator?

If you are passionate about providing a safe, loving environment in your own home and have an early childhood qualification (or are willing to study your Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care), we would love to chat with you. Contact our Coordination team at hello@kdfc.com.au or use the contact form below.

Do I need any qualifications to start?

Yes. Due to recent changes in legislation, family day care educators must hold a minimum of a Certificate III in Early Childhood Educator and Care. In addition, all FDC educators must hold a current First Aid, Asthma, Anaphylaxis and CPR qualification, Blue Card/Working with Children Check and Police Check.

How much can I earn?

It depends! It is your own business so you can set your own fees, within a set parameter, and the hours that you work. You will save money on fuel as you are not commuting to work, and there are also tax incentives to running your own business. There are no sign-up fees or annual registration fees to be an educator with Kath Dickson Family Day Care. We offer discounted First Aid training through Kath Dickson Institute, our registered training organisation, and discounted car restraint checks by our certified installer. We also cover the cost of the ‘Harmony’ system which you will use for recording children’s attendance and documenting children’s learning and wellbeing.

What support will I get?

You will be supported throughout your family day care journey by the Kath Dickson Family Day Care coordination unit, the approved provider. We will give you with the initial family day care training, as well as all forms, documents, and checklists to help run your business. You will be allocated a coordinator who will visit you regularly to offer support and mentoring, as well as to ensure that environments are safe and meet the requirement of the service and government regulation. We will support you in curriculum decision making, planning for children’s learning and development, and in your interactions with families and children. We also offer discounted or free first aid training and professional development opportunities.

Do I need to own my own home?

No, but you will be required to obtain written permission from your landlord to operate with us.

How do I know if my home is suitable?

We come and assess each residence before education and care is provided to children, and every 6 months thereafter. We use a ‘compliance checklist’ to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of children being educated and cared for by the service are being protected. However, we also understand that this is your home, and we have lots of cost-effective ideas to ensure compliance as well as maintaining your home environment.

Can I still work if I have my own children at home?

Yes! Educators can care for a Maximum of 7 children, four children preschool age or under. This Ratio includes the educator’s own children younger than 13 years of age if there is no other adult to care for them. 

Can I have pets?

Yes! We know pets are a part of your family, however, there are some safety requirements around sharing space and supervision that we can work through with you.

Can I have a pool?

Yes! You will be required to have a pool safety certificate and other specific policy around swimming must be adhered to if using during family day care hours.

After applying, how long until I can start?

Your start time is guided by you as our initial training is self-paced and can be completed online in the comfort of your own home. The Coordination team will support and guide you with every step of the way.

“I’ve been part of the family day care setting for just over a year now, but my experience as an educator in long day care spans 16 years. I find massive joy in the flexible and personalised approach of family day care, and we have ample time to spend together, free from the rush. This environment offers children more choices and encourages independent play, fostering their growth and learning. Welcoming others into your home can be daunting, but it’s crucial to establish clear boundaries with both parents and children. If possible, allocate a dedicated space for the children, while also ensuring you have a designated area for yourself to maintain a sense of personal space. Having a strong support network can make a significant difference.”

Sonia Townson, Chinchilla

“Operating my own family day care has been a fulfilling journey for the last 5 years. The joy of nurturing my own young children, with the privilege of providing a caring environment for other families in the community, has had so many positive benefits both personally and financially for my family. By providing a safe and nurturing environment for children, I am supporting working parents and contributing to the local economy, plus I am helping to shape the next generation, instilling values of care, kindness, empathy, and respect. I have so much pride for the work that I do and the service I provide. A cornerstone of my success has been the unwavering support and guidance offered by the Kath Dickson Family Day Care scheme.”

Nicky Ingram, Cooran

“I have been an educator for 7 years and have been a family day care educator for another year. I love helping children reach their best potential and growth in all areas of their development. With family day care, I find I can be more nurturing and one-on-one with the children in my care. I also enjoy the flexibility of being able to set my own hours and days. My advice to someone who is thinking of starting a family day care would be to start small, do it for a year and see if it’s for you. You will find that most people don’t turn back!”

Chloe Whitehouse, Palmwoods

“I am just coming into my second year of running my own family day care business. Family day care allows me to cherish the intimacy of a small group setting, where I can foster strong connections with each child. It brings me immense joy to be present for my own children’s school events without needing time off, while still sharing quality moments with them throughout the day. My advice to new family day care educators is to network with other providers for support, build relationships with families, and prioritise self-care to avoid burnout.”

Ash Smallmon, Toowoomba

Contact us

Kath Dickson Family Centre Head Office: 5 Jennings Street, Toowoomba Qld 4350

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