Lifetime Connect secures NSW Government funding to address childcare shortages.

The Nambucca Valley is experiencing a critical shortage of early childhood education and care, and qualified locals have an opportunity to help.

Lifetime Connect’s Nambucca Valley Family Day Care (NVFDC) is calling on people with childcare qualifications (Certificate III in Children’s Services or higher) to consider establishing a Family Day Care business in their own home.

The need is significant. Our region has been identified as a “childcare desert,” with working families struggling to access quality early learning and care. When new educators join our scheme, their places fill within days, demonstrating the urgent demand from local families.’

Supporting New Educators Through Trial Funding

NVFDC has been awarded $68,500 through the NSW Government’s Early Childhood Education and Care Flexible Initiatives Trial. This time-limited trial funding will be distributed across new educators to help them establish sustainable Family Day Care services in our region.

The trial program, funded through the NSW Government’s Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund, is designed to test flexible approaches to improving childcare access in underserved areas. For new educators who commit to operating for a minimum of 12 months, funding support may be available to help with start-up costs during the trial period, including:

  • Home safety modifications and compliance requirements
  • Essential equipment and resources
  • Professional development and training costs (including upskilling in First Aid, CPR, Asthma Management, Anaphylaxis Management, and Child Protection)
  • Quality improvement supportThe trial is time-limited, with funding agreements in place for up to 12 months. Support for individual educators will vary depending on when they commence and their specific needs. NVFDC will work with prospective educators to determine eligibility and appropriate assistance levels.

The Local Impact

Since receiving trial funding, NVFDC has successfully supported the establishment of over 100 additional childcare places across the coast. However, demand continues to outstrip supply.

“Every week we receive calls from families who can’t find childcare,” explains Tella Markham, Nominated Supervisor at NVFDC. “Parents are unable to return to work, families are traveling long distances for care, and children are missing out on quality early learning opportunities. Our region desperately needs more qualified educators willing to operate Family Day Care services. This is not a hobby. With the right mindset, Family Day Care is a legitimate business with genuine earning potential ($60- $100 per hour depending on fee structure and the number of children in care). Qualified educators can build sustainable, profitable services- from their own homes. When we start talking income and flexibility – it’s the best use of your qualifications.”

Each new educator creates opportunities for multiple local families. With capacity to care for up to 7 children (or 4 under school age), your decision to establish a Family Day Care service enables several families to access work, education, or the early learning their children need.

What Families Are Saying

“Without Family Day Care, I couldn’t work. The flexibility and home environment are exactly what our family needed, but finding care in our area was almost impossible.” – Lisa B, local parent

“My child was on a waitlist at the local centres for 8 months. When a Family Day Care educator opened in our area, we were able to get a place within a week.” – Ngun P, local parent

About the Trial

The Flexible Initiatives Trial is designed to test new approaches to delivering early childhood education and care, particularly in areas where traditional models do not fully meet community needs. The trial will help test what works in improving access, flexibility, and participation for families.

The funding supports the trial period only and will conclude at the end of the approved trial timeframe. While trial funding is time-limited (up to 12 months), the need for Family Day Care in our region is ongoing. NVFDC is committed to supporting educators to build sustainable businesses that continue to serve families beyond the trial period.

Throughout the trial, we will be monitoring how initiatives are working and gathering feedback to contribute to evidence that may inform future early childhood programs.

Find out more!

If you have a childcare qualification and have been considering how to use it, or if you are already working in the sector and interested in more flexibility, or creating your own income- generating business, we would welcome a conversation. Your decision to explore Family Day Care could change the lives of multiple Nambucca Valley families.

Contact Nambucca Valley Family Day Care: 6569 4222 or email fdcadmin@lifetimeconnect.org.au

No obligation- just an opportunity to learn more about what Family Day Care involves, what support is available, and whether it might work for you.