What is the Act?
The Act refers to the Child Care Services Act 2007. The Act is legally binding in the state of Western Australia. The Act contains the licence provisions for child care services in Western Australia.
To view the Act click here.
What are the Regulations?
The Child Care Services (Family Day Care) Regulations 2006 (the Regulations) set the minimum standards in Western Australia for family day care services providing child care for children who are predominately below school age and who have not yet commenced a secondary school programme. These Regulations are legally binding. All licensed child care providers have a legal responsibility to know, understand and comply with the Regulations.
The Regulations: are concerned with the protection of children’s wellbeing, including health and safety, are legally binding, reflect the community’s expectations for child care.
The Regulations set important standards in areas such as: the suitability of the person who will be looking after the children, safety of the child care service environment, equipment and toys, health and safety, programmes and activities for the children, child guidance, administrative records, information for parents.
To view the Regulations click here.
What role does the Department for Communities play?
The Department for Communities is responsible for licensing and monitoring child care services in Western Australia. The Department contributes to the quality of child care in Western Australia by ensuring child care services comply with the minimum standards set in the Child Care Services (Family Day Care) Regulations 2006.
For more about the Department for Communities click here.
What do Children’s Services Officers do?
Children’s Services Officers work for the Department for Communities. They are: the first point of contact for new licence application enquiries, responsible for providing advice and support to child care service providers and potential service providers about licensing, early childhood development, and quality child care strategies.
What do Licensing Officers do?
The Department for Communities employs Licensing Officers to: carry out the day to day work of licensing child care services, visit services to check for compliance with the Regulations, investigate and manage any alleged breaches of the Regulations, deal with any concerns about child care service quality raised by parents or the public, provide information to licensees about their current licences.
The Child Care Licensing and Standards Unit is located at:
1st floor, 111 Wellington Street EAST PERTH WA 6004
Mailing address for the Unit is:
PO Box 6242 East Perth Business Centre EAST PERTH WA 6892
Telephone numbers are:
6210 3333 (Metro) 1800 199 383 (Freecall STD) 6210 3300 (Fax number)
Visit the Department for Communities.
