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Families and Children

Page Contents:

• Search for Child Care
• About NCAC
• Support for Families
• Ask a Child Care Adviser
• NCAC For Children
• Lodging a Complaint About a Child Care Service
• Useful Contacts
• Contact NCAC

Search for Child Care

NCAC maintains a register of long day care centres, outside school hours care services and family day care schemes. Here you can find the contact details and Accreditation status of child care services throughout Australia.

• Search for a Child Care Service

About NCAC

NCAC is responsible for the administration of Child Care Quality Assurance (CCQA) systems for children's services throughout Australia. Services participating in CCQA are eligible to receive funding from the Australian Government (currently Child Care Benefit). These include family day care schemes, outside school hours care services and long day care centres.

The broad objective of the CCQA systems is to ensure that children in child care in Australia have stimulating, positive experiences and interactions that nurture all aspects of their development. The CCQA systems assist services to implement strategies to improve the quality of care that they provide for children.

NCAC aims to:

• Support continuous improvement to the quality of child care provided in Australia
• Provide children's services and families with advice and support relating to the quality of child care
• Advocate for children and the provision of high quality care

For more information about Quality Assurance in children's services please visit:

• Quality Assurance in Children's Services

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Support for Families

NCAC supports families in finding quality child care. NCAC can give you advice on what to look for in a quality child care environment and can also provide the names and contact details of registered and Accredited child care services in your local area.

Family Information Kit

For a free Family Information Kit that outlines what to look for in quality child care please visit the link below.

• NCAC Family Information Kit

Choosing Quality Child Care

NCAC also provides information on the role of families in quality child care and points to consider when looking for a child care service. This information is available in English and 24 community languages from the links below.

• Choosing Quality Family Day Care
• Choosing Quality Long Day Care
• Choosing Quality Outside School Hours Care

Family Factsheets

Family Factsheets provide families with information about aspects of child care, including advice and tips that will assist families to prepare for child care and to recognise quality child care practice.

• Family Factsheets
• Family Factsheets (Translations)

Ask a Child Care Adviser

Parents, grandparents and other family members regularly telephone NCAC to ask questions about child care. NCAC has compiled the most frequently asked questions from families and NCAC's Child Care Advisers have prepared responses.

• Ask a Child Care Adviser

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NCAC For Children

Information for children about NCAC, getting involved in CCQA at their child care service and a children's artwork gallery.

• NCAC For Children

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Lodging a Complaint About a Child Care Service

Families with concerns about the quality of care provided by a long day care, family day care or outside school hours care service are encouraged to discuss these issues with the service.

NCAC recognises that most complaints or concerns are best dealt with and resolved directly with the service. Quality services will have clear, transparent grievance and complaints handling procedures.

If you have raised concerns about a quality issue with a long day care, family day care or outside school hours care service, but your concerns remain unresolved please read the documents below.

• Tips for Raising Concerns with a Child Care Service (PDF 141kb - New Window)
• Lodging a Complaint about a Child Care Service (PDF 143kb New Window)

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Useful Contacts

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)

www.deewr.gov.au

The DEEWR website contains information on government policies and programs related to early childhood and child care. The website also has information related to education and youth, tertiary education and skills, employment, Indigenous Australians and workplace relations.

Child Care Benefit

For information about assistance with child care costs contact the Family Assistance Office on 136 150 or visit your local Centrelink or Medicare office.

Child Care Access Hotline

For information on child care and help with locating child care services in your area call 1800 670 305 (freecall).

Licensing Regulations

For information about licensing regulations, contact your state or territory department responsible for licensing children's services, call NCAC on 1300 136 554, or visit the State and Territory Licensing Department links for contact details.

Fair Trading and Consumer Affairs

If you have concerns about child care fees or contracts, contact your state or territory department responsible for fair trading and consumer affairs.

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Contact NCAC

The NCAC office is open during normal business hours - Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm (NSW Time). The office is closed on public holidays in NSW.

• Address: Level 3, 418a Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
• Telephone: (02) 8260 1900 or 1300 136 554 (for callers outside Sydney)
• Facsimile: (02) 8260 1901
• E-mail: qualitycare@ncac.gov.au
• Telephone Translating Service for calls in languages other than English: 131 450
• National Relay Service for hearing or speech impaired callers: 131 677