Choosing the right type of care for your child can seem overwhelming. To help families with this important task, Department for Communities has produced What About Child Care? guides and checklists for babies and toddlers, 3+ years old, school-aged children, and nannies.
Every child is special and unique, and deserves the best possible start in life.
The guides provide information on the types of licensed and unlicensed child care services available in WA, what they offier, and how to recognise what constitutes quality, professional care.
We also encourage you to print off the appropriate checklist when selecting a child care service. The checklists are a place to start to help you find a child care service that is right for you, your child and your individual family circumstance. Remember, you know your child best and can ask about the things that are most important to you.
See the Licensed Services links on the right for a register of all licensed Child Care Services including Child Care Centres and Outside School Hours Care and Family Day Care.
Types of child care services
Some child care services must be licensed and comply with State Government regulations and Commonwealth accreditation standards.
Family Day Care and Child Care Centres are licensed to provide child care for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Some may also offer places for primary school age children before and after school, during vacations and on pupil-free days.
Outside School Hours Family Day Care and Outside School Hours Care Centres are licensed to provide child care for school age children from Kindergarten age. Some offer places for children up to 15 years and six months.
There are a small number of Outside School Hours Family Day Care servcies that offer care exclusively for school age children. Many family day care services offer places to school age children.
The following child care services are unlicensed.
Crèche services operate in venues such as gyms, sports and recreation centres. Typically, these services are not licensed as parents stay close by and remain responsible for their children. However, providers have a duty of care to keep children safe and protected from harm.
In-home care is provided by a registered carer who comes to your home and is supported by the Australian Government. Although availability is sometimes limited, if your family has difficulty accessing other child care, this might be an option.
Nannies and babysitters provide care for children in their own home. There are specialist agencies that arrange this type of care or families make their own arrangements. Many families use babysitters to care for children for one-off events such as a night out.
Nannies are usually employed on a long-term basis. Nannies and babysitters are required to have a current Working with Children Card.
For advice and assistance relating to applying for a Working with Children Card contact the Working with Children Screening Unit:
t: (08) 6217 8100 or 1800 883 979
w: www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au
In-home care, nannies and babysitting services are not licensed because children are cared for in their own home.
Further information
You can call the Parenting WA Line or talk to one of our local children's services officers.
Call the Australian Government's Child Care Access Hotline:
t: 1800 670 305