Bathurst Regional Council Children's Services Scheme is funded by the Federal Government, licensed by the State Government and sponsored by Bathurst Regional Council. It is a non-profit organisation.

The Scheme provides home-based child care to over four hundred families within Bathurst Regional and Oberon Local Government Areas.

The Scheme's Co-ordination Unit is located at 7 Lee Street, Kelso. It employs seven (7) staff; five (5) Early Childhood Trained Teachers and two (2) Administration staff.

The Staff co-ordinate the placement of children, monitor their needs, recruit Educators and provide on-going training and support to these Carers. All Carers undergo training prior to registration with the Scheme. There are approximately fifty (50) registered Educators within the Scheme. The Educators provide child care within their own family home.

The support of the Bathurst Children's Services Co-ordination Unit Team ensures that Educators are resourced, trained and up-to-date with current child care practices. As part of a team of local child care workers, Family Day Care Carers earn an income working from home. For many Educators this means being able to combine earning an income while still being at home with their own children and family.

What is Bathurst Children's Services?

Family Day Care is a child care service that provides quality care for children up to 12 years of age in a home environment through approved Family Day Care Educators.

Educators are experienced, skilled individuals who earn an income by providing care within their own homes for small groups of children. Professional staff from a local Co-ordination Unit, generally established and operated by a community group, or local government authority, such as a Church or Council, work in partnership with Educators in supporting children's learning and development while offering support, to both Educators and parents. Co-ordination unit staff develop supportive relationships with families and are experts about home based child care standards, fostering the highest possible quality care environment for children.

Mission Statement

To provide high quality family-based care to families in Bathurst Regional Council and Oberon Shire Local Government Areas.

Philosophy

All children and parents have the right to high quality care in every Educators's home. This philosophy is to be met through the following Aims:

To Children

• To provide the children with every opportunity to develop socially, emotionally physically and cognitively.
• To provide children with a safe, clean, happy, healthy environment where their individual needs and strengths are recongnised.
• To use our best endeavours to ensure environments and programmes where children can feel security and enjoyment.

To Families

• To support families in providing high quality care in a family-based environment.
• To respect the individual rights of all families regardless of economic, status, cultural and ethnic differences.
• To inform parents of the Regulations and their rights and responsibilities as Family Day Care clients.
• To involve parents in decision making as much as possible.
• To provide parents with the security of well informed and trained carers.

Can I be a Educator?

• Interested in becoming a Educator?
• Are you interested in working from home?
• Are you over the age of 21 years?
• Are you able to provide a caring environment whilst supervising children?
• Do you enjoy being with babies and children?
• Can you provide a safe and stimulating environment for children?
• Do you have a desire to be self employed?
• Would you like the opportunity to earn up to $500.00 per week, or possibly more?
• Financial assistance is available to help with establishment costs.

For more information on becoming a Educator, please contact the Family Day Care Coordinator as per the contact details below.

What hours of care are provided?

In Family Day Care, the hours of care are flexible and can be matched to your family's needs. Family Day Care is available on weekends or overnight if needed.

Types of care provided include:

• Full-time Care
• Part-time care
• Casual care
• Roster Care
• Before/After school care
• Vacation Care

Fees

From July 2004, the Bathurst Family Day Care Scheme operates with a de-regulated fee structure.

The Scheme sets a minimum base rate for the various types of child care services, however, individual Educators may set their own fee structure, if desired.

For a copy of the current Educator's Recommended Fee Policy and Carer's Recommended Fees and Charges Schedule, contact the Family Day Care Office.

Individual Educators will advise families of their own charging practices, upon request.