Work health safety - Childcare, schools, education facilities experts

Introduction

Childcare (also known as day care) is the institutional care and supervision of children, usually in a centre-based or family day care service. The age of children in care ranges between six weeks and 13 years old. The childcare sector covers a wide spectrum of professionals, institutions, contexts, activities, social and cultural conventions.

Early childcare is an important component in child development. Childcare providers can be the children’s first teachers and therefore play an integral role in early childhood education. Quality care from a young age can have a huge impact on the future success of children. The main focus of childcare is on the development of the child, whether that be physical, social, emotional and/or psychological.

National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care

Most long day care, family day care, preschool and kindergarten, and outside school hours care services follow the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care. This includes a:

• National legislative framework that creates a standard approach to the regulation and quality assessment of education and child care services
   
• National Quality Standard that sets a national benchmark for the quality of education and care services
• National quality rating and assessment process that rates services against the National Quality Standard

In addition, the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) is a key component of the National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care. The framework offers a vision where “all children experience learning that is engaging and builds success for life”. It has been designed so that early childhood services will be able to develop their own strategies to implement its objectives.

Childcare can consist of advanced learning environments that include early childhood education or elementary education. The objective of the program of daily activities should be to foster incremental developmental progress in a healthy and safe environment, and should be flexible to capture the interests and individual abilities of the children.

Child Care Subsidy

Australia has a large childcare industry, however in many locations (especially in the inner suburbs of capital cities and regional areas) demand is high and availability is limited resulting in waiting periods of several years. The Australian government’s Child Care Subsidy scheme provides assistance with childcare costs but this can still leave families with considerable out-of-pocket expenses.

Training and qualifications

According to the National Regulations overseen by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), all childcare workers must have, or be undertaking, a minimum Certificate III qualification in early childhood education and development in order to work in a centre-based or family day care service.

Childcare centres require staff to be trained in first aid. Anaphylaxis management training and emergency asthma management training may also be required. In addition, police background checks and reference verification are normally a requirement.

At the bottom of this profile are brief details of a number of the experts that Expert Experts represents. Call our office to discuss your requirements and to obtain a recommendation that suits your needs and budget.

Expertise in Action

Experts in the field of childcare and education boast in-depth knowledge of the numerous work health and safety requirements and regulations resulting from decades of experience. This allows them to provide expert opinion on the extensive amount of activities and operations undertaken by those working in childcare centres, long day care centres, family day care services, outside school hours care services, preschools and kindergartens.

Sample Reports

For some fields of expertise we have some sample sections of de-identified reports. Please contact our office if you are interested in a sample.

Cost

The overall cost of expert opinion depends on the services required. Some of the key factors that affect the cost of advice include:

• The need for a view or inspection of a location
• The quantity of documentary material to be reviewed
• Whether there are reports of other experts to be reviewed and commented on in detail
• Whether there is a need for conferences with the expert either in person or by telephone/Skype

Relevant Articles National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care

The National Quality Framework (NQF) includes a national legislative framework that creates a standard approach to the regulation and quality assessment of education and childcare services.

Early Years Learning Framework

Belonging, Being and Becoming - The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) describes the principles, practices and outcomes that support and enhance young children's learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school.

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

The Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) works with all governments to provide guidance, resources and services to support the sector to improve outcomes for children.

Relevant Cases ABC Developmental Learning Centres Pty Ltd v Wallace [2006] VSC 171

ABC Developmental Learning Centres Pty Ltd was charged with two offences against the Children’s Services Act after a child aged nearly three got out of a child care centre of which it was the proprietor.

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