Family Day Care Service
The City of Cockburn provides a Family Day Care (FDC) service within the City’s local government and surrounding areas. Care is provided within the Educator’s home environment by carefully selected, qualified FDC Educators, all holding current Working with Children Checks, up-to-date child protection training
, mandatory reporting training, and a minimum of a Certificate
III in Early Childhood Education and Care. They offer warm, nurturing care in the comfort of their own homes – a true home away from home for your child.
Our not-for-profit service has proudly supported local families since 1978. We are a
Commonwealth Approved Service, meaning eligible families can access government subsidies to help with fees.
FDC offers a unique, personalised early childhood education and care experience in a small group setting. At any one time, there is a maximum of seven children in care with each Educator, all of whom must be under high school age. Of these, only four can be below compulsory school age (Pre-Primary). These numbers also include the Educator’s own children.
Commitment to quality and safety
Child safety is our highest priority. Our qualified and experienced City of Cockburn FDC Service staff provide monthly compliance and safety visits
, along with regular, ongoing support and monitoring, to ensure early childhood standards are maintained.
Learning is play-based and delivered in safe, age-appropriate environments within the Educator’s home. Play and exploration in natural settings are strongly encouraged to foster curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.
Supporting holistic development
FDC nurtures every aspect of your child’s growth—social, emotional, physical, and cognitive—allowing them to develop at their own pace in a comfortable, child-focused environment.
FDC focuses on:
Safety – The FDC Service conducts monthly compliance and safety visits, along with random unannounced compliance and support visits, to ensure the service meets legislative safety standards. All Educators must complete daily safety checklist to ensure a clean safe environment free of all hazards.
Qualified Educators – Each FDC Educator is carefully selected, holds current Working with Children Checks, has completed child protection training and mandatory reporting training, and is fully qualified in early childhood education, holding a minimum of a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Consistency and Relationships – Your child will be welcomed each day by the same FDC Educator in a familiar home environment, helping them settle in and build a consistent, trusting relationship.
Small Group Learning – During school hours, no more than four children are in care with FDC Educator at one time, with a maximum of seven children when both pre-primary and primary school-aged children are enrolled.
Finding a family day care educator
The service operates within the City’s local government and surrounding areas. Areas include Cockburn, Melville, Fremantle, East Fremantle, Cannington and Armadale.
Search for a family day care educator
Please contact Centrelink to obtain the required Customer Reference number (CRN) for the enrolling parent and each child being enrolled into the FDC Service. You also need to apply for the Commonwealth childcare subsidies at this time.
Become a family day care educator
If you are interested in becoming a family day care educator, please contact the Family Day Care Service Manager (see below) for more information.