Australian family day care educators: A snapshot of their qualifications, training and perceived support

Abstract

Introduction: Although the family day care workforce has changed over the past decade in response to evolving childcare regulations and accreditation requirements, there is little research on family day care educators in Australia. The aim of this study was to describe characteristics of Australian family day care educators, including their qualifications, professional training, characteristics of the children they care for, and connections to their family day care scheme and community organisations. Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using cross-sectional data from Wave Two of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) Birth Cohort. Data from family day care (FDC) educ..