Yes, to work as a Family Day Care Educator with us, you must hold at least an approved Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (or a higher early childhood qualification such as a Diploma). This is a National Quality Framework requirement, and as of current regulations, you must already hold the Certificate III before commencing work - you cannot start working while merely “working towards” it.

No, you do not need to own your home to operate a Family Day Care service. You can run an FDC service from a rented property, as long as you have written permission from the property owner or landlord.

To establish your family day care business, you will need to ensure your home has the necessary facilities to create a safe and nurturing space for children, including (but not limited to):
- A designated area for children to sleep or rest
- A space for children to use the toilet or have their nappy changed
- Sufficient indoor space for children to play without them running into furniture
- A designated area to prepare or store food
- A designated area for children to eat
- An outdoor space for children to learn and play
- A dedicated laundry area
- Secure storage for items such as toiletries, medicines and cleaning products

Before you open the doors to your new family day care business, we will assess your residence and will communicate further with any additional requirements that may be required.

If you live in Port Hedland or Newman and open your Family Day Care service through Uplyft, you may be eligible for a $5,000 grant to help with the costs of setting up your service (terms and conditions apply).

The grant can be used for a range of essential start-up expenses, including:
- Furniture and equipment for children’s learning and play areas (e.g., tables, chairs, storage).
- Educational resources and toys to support early learning programs.
- Safety and compliance items, such as first aid kits, smoke alarms, and child-proofing equipment.

The grant is designed to ease the initial setup costs so you can focus on providing a safe, high-quality Family Day Care service from day one.

When you join Uplyft Family Day Care as an educator, you operate as a self‑employed small business, you are not employed directly by Uplyft. This means you can choose your own hours and set your service fees with support and guidance from Uplyft.

- Uplyft keeps administration costs minimal
- Uplyft pays for educator access to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) software and other essential systems, so you don’t need to pay separately to use them.
- You can decide what to charge families for care based on your qualifications, experience, and hours offered, while staying within Uplyft’s guidance.

The time it takes to join Uplyft Family Day Care can vary depending on a few factors. Key considerations include:
- Completion of required forms and documentation including your qualifications, police and working with children checks, and any landlord permission if operating from a rental property.
- Completion of mandatory training such as first aid, CPR, and child safety courses.
- How quickly you want to start. If you are ready and all requirements are met promptly, the onboarding process can be faster.

Once all paperwork, checks, and training are completed, Uplyft can guide you through the final steps to officially launch your Family Day Care service. Typically, the process can take a few weeks, but it may be shorter or longer depending on your circumstances.