Family Day Care

In reply to Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (25 July 2019). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education): There has been a sustained decline in the number of children using family day care in South Australia over recent years. This is consistent with the national trend and is attributed to a decreased number of family day care educators nationally due to:

attrition due to the ageing family day care educator workforce

increased requirements and compliance monitoring associated with the National Quality Framework

increased availability of long day care

changes to the family day care eligibility requirements for the new Child Care Subsidy by the Australian government; and

greater business demands on family day care educators.

The Department for Education does not collect data on the number of children that are cared for at home or in other informal arrangements.