In Home Child Care

Subsidised care under the IHC program must be provided only for children of individuals eligible for the Child Care Subsidy who can demonstrate that other types of approved child care are not available or appropriate and where one or more of the following eligibility criteria apply:

• parents or carers are working non-standard or variable hours, outside normal child care service hours
• parents or carers are geographically isolated from other types of approved child care, including because they reside in a rural or remote location
• the family has challenging or complex needs.

Challenging or complex needs may include one or more of the following:

• a child with additional needs or a disability whose early childhood education and care requirements cannot be catered for in another approved child care setting, or through other government funded or community-based services
• a family where a parent is undergoing treatment for a serious illness
• other complex family situations that prevent families from accessing other approved child care types.

IHC Support Agencies assess families against the IHC eligibility criteria to determine if they are eligible for IHC.

Continued eligibility for In Home Care is assessed every three months through the In Home Care Support Agency. This is a requirement of the funding agreement with Department of Education Skills and Employment – In Home Care.

We currently have In Home Care Educators throughout the Northern Rivers area from Tweed Heads to Lismore, Brisbane and Gold Coast.

Part time, full time, casual, occasional, before and or after school care, overnight, roster or shifts, and evenings or weekends; dependant on the availability of an IHC Educator.

Families may be able to access IHC for children receiving funding through the NDIS, however sessions of IHC must have a focus on early childhood education and care.

Registration Process for Families

Step 1: Complete the In Home Care Eligibility Application

To begin, complete the In Home Care Eligibility Application Form through the QLD or NSW IHC Support Agency. You may wish to phone the agency first to check your eligibility.

Contact details:

• QLD IHC Support Agency: 1800 993 737 | info@ihc.org.au
• NSW IHC Support Agency: 1800 442 273 | info@ihcsupportagency.org.au

This step ensures your family meets the national criteria for the program.

Step 1a: IHC Support Agency

The In Home Care Support Agency is your first point of contact and works closely with you throughout the process. Their role includes:

• Helping you understand the IHC program and eligibility requirements
• Supporting you to complete the Eligibility Application
• Issuing your Notice of Decision to confirm if you’re approved
• Completing the Family Referral Form
• Managing your allocation of approved IHC days and hours
• Supporting you if your circumstances change or if you transition to another type of care

Step 2: Eligibility Review and Family Management Plan

Once you submit the IHC Eligibility Application Form to the Support Agency they will review your documentation. If approved, they will work with you to create a Family Management Plan (FMP), which outlines:

• Your care requirements
• The number of approved hours
• Reasons your family qualifies for IHC
• Any specific supports your family needs

Step 3: Register with Northern Rivers In Home Care

After approval, you will register with Northern Rivers In Home Care, I have attached our registration form.  Northern Rivers In Home Care operates in line with the Child Care Subsidy Minister’s Rules 2017, the IHC National Guidelines, and relevant state legislation. This ensures all education and care provided meets national safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

Step 4: Mandatory Face to Face Home Safety Check

Once IHC eligibility and registration is confirmed, I will then arrange a convenient time for a home safety check. This ensures your home meets all safety requirements before care can begin. During this visit, we will:

• Walk through your home with you
• Identify any hazards
• Discuss safe sleep requirements if applicable
• Provide guidance on any adjustments required

You will also receive:

• A copy of the In Home Care Guidelines 2025 V1.3
• Northern Rivers In Home Care Parent Handbook, which includes service policies, procedures, expectations, questions and answers and important program information

Step 5: CCS, Fees, Direct Debits and Family Onboarding

After the home safety check is completed, Kerrie our administration officer will contact you to:

• Confirm Child Care Subsidy (CCS) enrolment
• Explain how fees are calculated and the family levy
• Discuss how payment works
• Set up direct debit

This ensures you feel confident before an educator starts.

Step 6: Educator Placement

Educators are qualified professionals who meet strict safety and education standards. Northern Rivers In Home Care will match your family with a suitable educator.  All educators in our service hold:

• Certificate III (or higher) in Early Childhood Education and Care
• First Aid and CPR certification
• Child Protection training
• Blue Card / Working with Children Check
• National Police Check
• Medical clearance
• Safe Sleep training, Active Supervision training, Challenging Behaviour training
• ELearning with ACECQA
• Professional references and public liability insurance
• All Educators are engaged as Contractors

The placement process is:

1. Internal recruitment: Alert current educators to your position and care needs
2. External recruitment: Advertise on SEEK, Indeed, and We Need a Nanny

Placement timeframes vary depending on educator availability, hours, location, and role complexity. While placement cannot be guaranteed we do explore a variety of options to recruit a qualified Educator for your family.

Step 7: Learning, Development and Wellbeing Program

Your educator will work with you to develop goals for your family, I will then tailor a program that reflects your child’s interests, strengths, and developmental goals. Your input is key to ensuring the best care.

Step 8: Ongoing Support

• Educators receive 12 weekly compliance visits to ensure care quality and safety.
• If you have any concerns, we will work with you to address questions or resolve issues.
• You must notify us of any changes to your family circumstances, care requirements, or eligibility within 14 days.

Step 9: Reviewing Your Eligibility

Your family’s eligibility for In Home Care is reviewed at least every 6 months by the IHC Support Agency and annually in line with your Child Care Subsidy (CCS). You must notify both your IHC Support Agency and Northern Rivers In Home Care within 14 days if there are any changes to:

• Family circumstances
• Care requirements
• Change of address (a new safety check will be required prior to care continuing)
• Eligibility or hours needed

This ensures that the care and support provided to your family remains accurate, safe, and tailored to your child’s needs. All processes for determining eligibility and allocating care are carried out in line with the Child Care Subsidy Minister’s Rules 2017 and the IHC National Guidelines.

Fees and Charges 2026

• Educator hourly rate: from $40.00 per hour (negotiable based on qualification and experience)
• Family levy: $6.15 per hour
• Minimum shift: 3 hours

In Home Care educators charge a family fee. This means that there is a set hourly fee regardless of whether all the children are in care.

The family hourly rate cap is $39.80 per hour and the Additional Child Care Subsidy rate is $47.76 per hour. Depending on family circumstances, Child Care Subsidy will subsidise this amount for families who are eligible. Note that the CCS percentage is based on the family’s taxable income. Educators can charge a higher hourly rate for travel incurred because of the child’s needs. For example, the educator may be required to collect a child from pre-school or drop them off to preschool. This is discussed and decided between the parent and educator prior to commencement of this service.

Click here for Priority of Access Guidelines for In Home Childcare Places

Click here for further Fee Information

Click here for Child Care Subsidy CCS

Click here for Additional Child Care Subsidy ACCS

No, families cannot receive Child Care Subsidies during the time a child is engaged in formal schooling, including for the purpose of supervising distance education programs such as School of the Air (on air and off air times). This includes the programs many schools provided to parents/carers to deliver to their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is longstanding policy, as the Commonwealth funds state and territory governments for the delivery of school education. Care provided while a child is completing homework does not constitute formal schooling.

Supervision of distance education programs may be provided in the family home by an IHC educator as a private arrangement between the family and the service, complementary to the provision of subsidised child care. Private arrangements do not attract Child Care Subsidy.

IHC has a focus on education and care, and may complement disability support received through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). A child with additional needs may receive NDIS support and the family, if they are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy and meet the eligibility criteria for IHC, may also be able to receive IHC.