In Home Care is a child care initiative announced as part of the Commonwealth's Stronger Families and Communities Strategy. Eligible families may have child care provided in their own home (where care is available).
In Home Care places are targeted to families who have no access to existing child care services, and/or their circumstances mean that an existing child care service cannot meet their needs, and where the family meets one or more of the following criteria:
- the child has, or lives with another child who has an illness or a disability;
- the child's guardian (or guardian's partner) has an illness or disability that affects their ability to care for the child;
- the child lives in a rural or remote area;
- the work hours of the child's guardian (or guardian's partner) are hours when no other approved child care service is available;
- the child's guardian (or guardian's partner) is caring for three or more children who have not yet started school.
The Department will continue to have discretion to allow exemptions to the eligibility criteria for a family in special and exceptional circumstances. Services will be required to contact the Department in such circumstances.
If you have questions, please submit them to
IHC@deewr.gov.au or telephone 1300 363 079.
Standards for In Home Care
Following consultations with key stakeholders, interim standards for IHC were introduced in 2008. IHC providers are now required to adhere to these standards until such time that they are replaced by National Standards. Introducing minimum requirements and focussing on enhancements in quality will increase the marketability of IHC and improve the quality of care and the safety of carers, families and children. The Commonwealth Government will continue to work with state and territory governments to develop the National Standards for IHC.
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Interim Standards for In Home Care -
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Engagement in Quality AssuranceThe Government is currently developing a new accreditation framework for early childhood services to replace the current Quality Assurance systems. The new framework will incorporate strong quality standards and an A-E rating system that is intended to apply all early childhood education and child care types, including IHC. This means that all IHC services over time may be required to participate in the accreditation process. Further information will be provided about transitional arrangements for IHC as this work develops.
As a minimum, IHC providers are required to maintain their contractual requirements as nominated in the IHC Funding Agreement. Unannounced visits of services are part of the Commonwealth Government’s improved compliance strategy to protect the integrity of payments made to support families accessing approved child care. Under the Family Assistance legislation and terms of the funding agreement, DEEWR officers may visit a service unannounced.
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