Large families, shift workers and ill parents may not know it, but they might be able to afford to hire their own
Mary Poppins as part of a national childcare scheme!
In-home childcare is a federally funded program that allows some families to hire a carer to mind their children at home at a subsidised rate.
The Federal Government program (which is not widely promoted by the government or health professionals), is managed by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), and eligible families must meet strict criteria.
Placement Solutions managing director Louise Dunham says her Melbourne-based agency was one of the first selected by the department to offer the program 12 years ago.
Since then, the agency has helped many families access the program, including families in crisis, (for example where a parent or child is suffering a serious illness, single parents, shift workers and families with multiple births).
“The program makes high-quality in-home childcare a very affordable option for families once rebates are included,“ Louise says.
DEEWR’s Vicki Pateras says the program allows childcare to take place in a child’s home, which is particularly important for families in crisis or coping with very young or disabled children. Carers are carefully matched to families to ensure their skills suit the family’s needs.
National In-Home Childcare Association (NICA) secretary Julie Paull says in-home care is intended as a short term option but some families have accessed the program for several years.
She says the program has a relatively low profile as the number of families who can access it is capped.
“We’re in a catch 22 situation, Julie says. “If we advertise the service then we are at risk of being inundated with requests that we can’t meet.”
However the association is lobbying the Federal Government to increase places to meet demand.
“For every family that has stopped using the service there is one waiting to take their place,” she says.
In-home childcare providers are available across Melbourne and must be approved by the Department and meet national standards.
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