About us
Queensland's Peak Family Day Care body
We are a not for profit, Peak organisation, who have been providing advocacy, resources and support to Queensland Family Day Care services for over 40 years.
Leading the sector in exceptional home-based early childhood education and care
As the Peak, we support Family Day Care services, families and educators by providing information, advice and resources, as well as delivering professional development and training.
A message from our CEO
Welcome to Family Day Care Queensland
From infancy through school age, a child's early years shape their future in profound ways, and for over 4 decades, Family Day Care Queensland has been at the forefront of ensuring all Queensland children receive the highest quality education and care in nurturing home environments.
As we navigate significant changes in our sector, our commitment to leading, growing and promoting exceptional home-based education and care remains unwavering. We understand the challenges facing our sector, from workforce recruitment and retention to housing accessibility, and we're actively working with government stakeholders at both state and federal levels to advocate for sustainable solutions that support educators and service providers.
What sets family day care apart is its ability to draw deep connection to local communities and our ability to provide flexible, relationship-based care that truly meets families' needs. Family day care educators deliver vital services across Queensland, reaching families in regional and remote areas and supporting children with diverse needs. We collaborate closely with the Queensland Department of Education's Early Childhood Education and Care division to strengthen and promote child safety standards across all our services.
We recognise that families are children's first and most influential educators. Across the sector, our members, service providers and educators partner with families to create nurturing learning environments that respect culture, relationships and nature. Family day care professionals throughout Queensland bring their qualifications, experience and dedication to creating genuine, safe spaces where children can thrive through play-based learning that mirrors the natural learning that occurs within families.
—Deb Tuckey, Acting CEO
Our
Publications
Governance
FDCQ Board
The Board is responsible for ensuring FDCQ meets legal requirements and remains accountable to all stakeholders. The purpose of the Board is to supervise the overall compliance and business performance of the organisation.
The FDCQ Board is skills based with member representation. Directors are appointed based on their skill, expertise and their belief in the value of exceptional home-based education and care.
Our Values
Our values guide the behaviour of the Peak and the work we do within the family day care sector.
Children and families are our heart
- We listen and respond
- We speak up and protect
- We are responsible and accountable
We play well with others
- We share ideas, challenges and successes
- We are relationship-oriented and task-focused
- We do what we say we will do
We colour outside the lines
- We are change creators, makers and champions
- We seek solutions powered by curiosity and creativity
- Our success lies in the extra mile
Strategic Plan 2020-2023
Our Belief
Successful futures start early.
Our Purpose
To lead, promote and grow exceptional home-based education and care.
Strategic Priorities
Lead
To lead the sector in innovative, quality and evidence-informed home-based education and care.
Promote
To promote the benefits of home-based education and care for children, families and the borader community.
Grow
To grow the size and capacity of the home-based education and care sector.
Strategic Enablers
People
To enable, empower and invest in our people to achieve our goals.
Governance
To strengthen our viability and capacity by applying diligent and transparent governance and financial management.
Systems
To adopt agile, sustainable and compliant processes and systems to enable us to deliver our goals.
Sector Chart
FDC Sector Overview
FDC Sector roles and responsibilities
Educator
Qualified Educators who are engaged and supported by a local Family Day Care service to provide exceptional early years education and care to small groups of children in their own home. FDC Educators are guided by the National Quality Framework to deliver play-based programs that support each child’s learning and development.
Administration Officer
Services employ administration staff who are primarily responsible for managing administrative and record keeping requirements such as child enrolments and attendance, Educator and staff registers and processing government childcare subsidy payments. Administration roles may also include delivering training and support to guide Educators business skill and knowledge.
Coordinator / Practice Mentor
Coordinators are employed by Family Day Care Services to mentor and support Educators to successfully deliver exceptional home-based education and care. Coordinators guide Educators best practice to ensure Educators commitment to comply with National Quality Framework and relevant legislation. The Coordinators role may include, Educator recruitment and induction, regular home assessments and visits and professional development. Coordinators often deliver playgroups and liaise with families to ensure each child’s education and care requirements are supported. Coordinators may also fulfill the NQF requirements as the services Educational Leader and provide support for program and practice throughout the service.
Approved Providers / Service / Managers
The Approved Provider of a Family Day Care service is the person responsible for maintaining compliance to the Service Approval. Depending on the size of the FDC service, the Approved Provider may also hold the role of Nominated Supervisor and/or Service Manager. Each of these positions have the overall responsibility for managing the delivery of the service in accordance to the National Quality Framework, including ensuring compliance with relevant legislative and regulatory requirements and the engagement of Service staff and Educators.