In Home Care

In Home Care (IHC) is an approved child care service type created under the Australian Government’s new child care package commencing 2 July 2018.

The revised IHC program will be a capped program of up to 3,000 places, providing up to 50 hours of subsidised care per child per week with an hourly rate cap of $25 per family, subject to Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) eligibility criteria.

The revised program will provide access to Government subsidised child care in the family home and be targeted to assist parents or carers who are unable to access other mainstream child care options such as those who work non-standard hours, are geographically isolated or have families with challenging and complex needs.

The new arrangements will reset In Home Care, replace the Nanny Pilot Programme, and align with the key elements of the new child care package. IHC will support families’ workforce participation and early childhood education and care requirements where other approved child care services are not available or appropriate, particularly for families with complex and challenging needs.

Families unable to access Centre-based Day Care (CDC), Family Day Care (FDC) and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) due to their unique circumstances may be able to access subsidised education and care provided in the family home through IHC.

 

Remember to check with ICPA and In Home Care Service to understand how these guidelines are applied in your situation.  The new IHC and Childcare system is in the early stages of practical application and there are teething problems.  It can also seem like the information is contradicting itself.  Please contact us if you need more support or information.  I am updating this page as information comes to hand.

Updated 6 June 2018 7.30 am

 

PAGE CONTENTS

• Educator Requirements Information

• Family Requirements Information

• IMPORTANT IN HOME CARE LINKS

 

                            

Educator Requirements Checklist

• FIRST AID

  • Current First Aid and CPR certificate - More Information and Providers

• NATIONAL POLICE CHECK and WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECK

  • National Police Check at https://afpnationalpolicechecks.converga.com.au/ 

  • www.fdcapolicechecks.com.au $37.50 for members registered for In Home Care

  • More information on Working With Children Check and National Police Check

• PRODA ACCOUNT (Provider Digital access Account)

  • All educators need a PRODA Account which will allocate a Registration Authority (RA) Number which needs to be kept secure and given to In Home Care Service.

  • Go directly to the secure link: PRODA authentication system where you can follow the step-by-step instructions.

  • Each individual must create your own PRODA account using a computer with internet access.  The process will require you to verify your identification by providing information from 3 Australian government issued documents – such as a passport, drivers license, birth certificate or Medicare Card.  If your name differs on any documents used, another document will be needed to link the different names (ie. Marriage certificate, change of name certificate, amended birth certificate). At the end of the registration processan individual will recieve a Registration Authority (RA) Number.

• QUALIFICATIONS

  • All educators in remote Australia have a transition period for qualifications until 1 January 2020.  Please read information below. Governess Australia does recommend to all people wanting to work with children to study either Cert 3 in Education Support or Early Childhood Education.  ACECQA website has more information.

  • Information requarding Qualifications and Transition from the relevant government websites

    • INFORMATION FROM ACECQA  (The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority) – Approved Qualifications

    • INFORMATION FROM EDUCATION.GOV.AU/INHOMECARE

    • IN HOME CARE NATIONAL GUIDELINES QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

    • IN HOME CARE BOOKLET *** As yet unavailable***

  • Governess Australia has completed some information on Training Provider Options

• REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN NATIONAL GUIDELINES

  • be at least 18 years’ old

  • be engaged by an approved IHC Service

  • have attained (or be working towards), as a minimum, a Certificate III qualification in Early Childhood Education

  • hold a current police check and working with children check acceptable in the state or territory in which they intend to work

  • hold a current first aid qualification including CPR

  • be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident or have a relevant visa to allow employment on a continuous basis for 12 months or more.

                           

Family Requirements Checklist

• CHILDCARE SUBSIDY ASSESSMENT

  • Please complete your Childcare Subsidy Assessment.  You need to sign into your Centrelink online account through myGov. Select Complete your Child Care Subsidy assessment task. Work through the steps to give us new information and confirm your current details.

  • Child Care Subsidy Information at the Human Services Dept.

  • How to Check if your Child Care Subsidy Assessment has been Approved

•  

  CONTACT IN HOME CARE

  • Contact current In Home Care Service or state In Home Care Support Agency for information on application process. 

    • In Home Care Support Agencies - https://docs.education.gov.au/node/50536

    • DO NOT answer calls from services which are not your allocated In Home Care Service or In Home Care Support Agency

  • When talking to the In Home Care Support Agency they will need to know the maximum hours you will use in your busiest week.  If you are on School Of The Air or Distance Education please indicate if asked. In Home Care is available in remote Australia for care in hours they are not in contact with the DE teacher on lesson or face to face formal schooling. 

  • Read the IHC Handbook and National Guidelines listed in links below for more information

                            

IMPORTANT IN HOME CARE LINKS

In Home Care (from 2 July 2018)
www.education.gov.au/in-home-care

In Home Care National Guidelines

https://docs.education.gov.au/node/47766

In Home Care Handbook

https://docs.education.gov.au/documents/home-care-handbook

In Home Care Support Agencies

https://docs.education.gov.au/node/50536

ACECQA (The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority)

www.acecqa.gov.au/qualifications/nqf-approved

                           

INFORMATION FROM ACECQA (The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority)

"In recognition that IHC educators may care for primary school aged children, the primary school teaching qualifications of educators registered with the state and territory education boards are also deemed as acceptable qualifications for IHC educators.”

“As with the current In Home Care Program, child care subsidies are not payable during the time a child is engaged in a formal schooling (either in person or via distance education) program. Care provided while children are completing homework does not constitute formal schooling."

“AECQA is responsible for publishing a list of approved early childhood and care qualifications under the National Quality Framework.  If you do not hold an approved qualification you can apply to ACECQA to have your qualification assessed to see if it is equivalent to an approved certificate111, diploma or ECT early childhood education and care qualification.”

 Recognised qualifications listed on their website

                            

INFORMATION FROM www.education.gov.au/in-home-care

 

Qualifications

What are the educator qualification requirements for the revised In Home Care service type?

One of the key elements of the new In Home Care policy is a renewed focus on early childhood education and care. To ensure the quality of care and national consistency in service delivery, In Home Care educators will be required to have, as a minimum, a Certificate III in a relevant course or provide documentary evidence that they are working towards such a qualification.

Will educators have a transitional period in which to commence a Certificate III?

From 2 July 2018, all In Home Care Educators will be required to have a minimum Certificate III level qualification in a relevant course, or be working towards, a Certificate III qualification.

In Home Care Educators who do not hold currently hold relevant qualifications will be required to complete or at a minimum be enrolled in a relevant course by 2 July 2018. To continue to provide In Home Care, educators will need to provide documentary evidence from the course provider to the service indicating that educator is making satisfactory progress towards completing the course and meeting the requirements to maintain the enrolment.

Transition

What are the transitional provisions for IHC educators working in rural and remote areas (until 1 January 2020)?

Only educators working in rural and remote areas will have a transitional period to commence a Certificate III.

In recognition that IHC educators working in rural and remote areas may experience difficulties in meeting the qualification requirements for IHC (a Certificate III or evidence of actively working towards this qualification), the following transitional provisions will apply until 1 January 2020.

1. An IHC Service providing services in a remote or a very remote area will meet the qualification requirements for the IHC educators if the service has access to an educator with at least a Certificate III in early childhood education and care providing care for at least 20 per cent of the time care is provided to a family. This may be by means of information and communication technology.

2. If the educator has been continuously employed at an early childhood education and care service located in a remote or a very remote area for a period of at least 15 years, then the educator does not need to hold or be actively working towards a certificate III level education and care qualification.

                            

IHC NATIONAL GUIDELINES QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

 

3.6.1.  Working with IHC Services

All educators providing IHC must be engaged by an approved IHC Service and may be engaged either as an employee or a contractor.

IHC educators will be required to have a minimum Certificate III level qualification in a relevant course, or be working towards a Certificate III qualification and provide documentary evidence. Educators who do not hold relevant qualifications will be required to be enrolled by 2 July 2018 to be able to provide IHC.

A Certificate III, a diploma or a degree in Early Childhood Education or equivalent qualifications that have a major focus on Early Childhood Education are acceptable qualifications. Further information on other qualifications that are considered acceptable for IHC will be provided in the In Home Care Handbook. The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), established under the Early Childhood Education and Care Act 2010 to guide the implementation of the National Quality Framework, sets out the criteria for an educator to be considered as actively working towards a Certificate III course.

Whilst IHC Services do not come under the Early Childhood Education and Care Act 2010, the intention is for the requirement of working towards a qualification to be consistent. This criterion requires the educator to provide documentary evidence from the course provider to the service indicating that educator is:

• enrolled in a course and has started study

• making satisfactory progress towards completing the course

• meeting the requirements to maintain the enrolment.

IHC educators must:

• be at least 18 years’ old

• be engaged by an approved IHC Service

• have attained (or be working towards), as a minimum, a Certificate III qualification in Early Childhood Education

• hold a current police check and working with children check acceptable in the state or territory in which they intend to work

• hold a current first aid qualification

• be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident or have a relevant visa to allow employment on a continuous basis for 12 months or more.

 The educator must not be a family member. Where an educator is related to the family, the educator must disclose this information to the IHC service for which they are working.

 

                           

PRODA ACCOUNT (Provider Digital Access Account)

Go directly to the secure link: PRODA authentication system where you can follow the step-by-step instructions.

1. Each individual must create your own PRODA account using a computer with internet access.
2. The process will require you to verify your identification by providing information from 3 Australian government issued documents – such as a passport, drivers licence, birth certificate or Medicare Card.
3. If your name differs on any documents used, another document will be needed to link the different names (ie. Marriage certificate, change of name certificate, amended birth certificate).

At the end of the registration process an individual will receive a Registration Authority (RA) Number. 

This RA Number must be kept secure and you will be required to send it to us, so we can input it into our system. 

 

                            

How to Check if your Child Care Subsidy Assessment has been Approved.

Most families have completed they CCS assessment and have not received notification from Centrelink if it has been approved.  We have been shown how to check if your CCS has been approved on a Mobile Phone

1. Log into your MYGOV
2. Click on your Centrelink Account
3. On the left hand side they are 3 horizontal lines
4. Click on the lines and a list will drop down
5. In the list you will see Child Care Subsidy
6. Click on Child Care Subsidy, under this you should see Child Care Subsidy Summary
7. Click on Child Care Subsidy Summary
8. Scroll down the page until you see your children’s name, than scroll across the page to see your assessment.