Gunner71

Hi everyone.

We are currently going through the application process and wondered if you could offer some advice on how children are cared for in Oz.

My wife is an Ofsted registered childminder in the UK and looks after children in our house.

Does this kind of arrangement exist in Oz - as all I have read people chatting about are Kindergarten.

If anyone does have this kind of arrangement, what kind of fees are payable? And is it an informal arrangement or do they have to be registered somewhere?

I'm sure that there must be lots of people in Oz who need affordable childcare, and would appreciate it if anyone can give me an inside view of what happens over there!

Thanks a lot!

LINZI

Hi Gunner71

Family day care maybe something your wife could do when you come over here. I have some links here with information let me know if this is an interest and I will message you some other bits and bobs.

http://www.familydaycare.com.au/index.php/main/Home#M55

http://www.familydaycare.com.au/inde...%20Educator#M1

Linzi

Gunner71

Thats great Linzi - I'll have a look at this. Thanks a lot!

Zen10

I can't offer specifics but I can say childcare in Australia is wildly more generous than in Britain BUT it looks like it's going to be an issue at the next federal election in September, so it could change.

Gunner71

Thanks very much for your replies. I'm really trying to discover if there is an expat community that feels happier being cared for by somebody who has lived in uk/ireland (my wife is irish) rather than go through the formal route pre-school.

Pomster

Have to say in my experience it is all about convenience and happiness of children. Family day care users tend to be local community, so make sure you opt for an area with plenty of little kids, to have a source pool.

In my areas (newport and willy, Vic) getting good childcare is stressful as there are more children than spaces.

LeeWillo

We took our child to a house, which was registered and governed with a childcare agency. I think from memory we paid about $70 a day, for a 1 year old for about 8 hours care.