FAMILY DAY CARE

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Will the minister explain what efforts this government is making to support small business operators involved in providing family day care?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:43): I thank the honourable member for his question. This government is committed to providing a range of services and programs to assist small business operators through various agencies. One example of that is the Department of Education and Children's Services, the major sponsor of family day care, administering the family day care program and recruiting and training family day care providers. These providers are self-employed. They are home-based child-care workers and, as such, are small business operators working within a government-approved regulatory framework. There are currently almost 900 small home-based care provider businesses in South Australia working in the cities and regions to support working families.

From a small business perspective, the provision of family day care is very important as it fosters a niche industry that is tailor-made for caregivers who want to work from their own homes. Family day care provides child care for children from birth to 12 years of age in homes of approved care providers. Care hours are flexible, depending on parents' needs, and can be available overnight and also on weekends. Respite care is available for children with additional needs.

DECS supports these small business owners with assistance to select, recruit and train care providers to ensure that their businesses are built on solid foundations. It also supports this local industry by assessing and monitoring the quality of care and safety through home visits and other contact with care providers. DECS also manages the annual approval of care providers which is required under the Children's Services Act. The agency also assists small business operators to meet the national standards for family day care and the requirements of the commonwealth government's family day care quality assurance system.

DECS also helps to promote family day care across the state by providing information to families about the availability of services in their area. The agency also registers families using family day care and refers families to care providers. In this way, DECS can regularly contact parents to discuss the quality of service.

The agency also provides advice, information and resources to care providers relevant to the needs of individual children and families. It can also coordinate training for care providers, including online training towards qualifying for certificate level and diploma qualifications in children's services. DECS also provides information on standards and policies, including health and nutritional information. To ensure family day care operators are aware of and able to comply with statutory responsibilities, DECS also provides advice, information and resources on legislative, regulatory and licensing requirements.

Family day care is an important and growing area of the childcare industry which encourages small business operators working in their own homes. It is essential that the government provides small businesses and their clients (hardworking families) across South Australia with the support they need to succeed and thrive.