In Home Care
The In home care program (IHC) is funded by the Federal Government Department of Education. The program is a form of early childhood education and care where a qualified educator provides care in the child’s home. This type of care is available to families who can’t access other types of care due to challenging or complex needs, geographic isolation or caregiver non-standard working hours. There are limited places available.
Who can access In Home Care:
To access IHC caregivers must be eligible to claim the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Eligibility information for CCS can be found here.
Families must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Geographic Isolation
- Caregiver works non-standard or variable hours (outside of typical Childcare hours)
- Challenging or complex needs: this criteria is dependent on each individual's circumstance, but generally to meet the criteria for IHC this may include a combination of social, medical or professional issues. Some examples include:
- A parent is undergoing treatment for a serious illness. This prevents the children from accessing other approved child care types due to the likelihood of the parent being immunocompromised.
- A child has a serious illness. Other types of approved childcare are not appropriate due to the risk of transmitting illness.
- A child living in kinship care with an experience of significant trauma has been exited from multiple early education settings due to dysregulated behaviours that harm. The child is due to start school in three months time. The child’s kinship carer has indicated that they are unable to take more time off from work and the challenge of settling into a new service may affect the sustainability of the child’s placement with them. The child's carer and care team agree commencing another ECEC service will be more disruptive for the child so in home care is suggested as an alternative option until the child commences school.
What is available?
An IHC place is equivalent to 35 hours of subsidised care, per week per child. The cost for families will be dependent on the amount of CCS they are approved for, whether they are eligible for ACCS and whether multiple children in the household are accessing IHC. Families should be aware that there are likely gap fees to cover when using IHC and consider the financial viability of this option.
Educators provide a tailored individual education program based off the child’s interests, needs, and development.
In Home Care agencies are based in each state/territory and can assist you to find an educator who is a good fit for the child, their education and care needs, and the family situation.
All In Home Care educators are required to have a minimum Certificate III level qualification, or be working towards a relevant qualification. In Home Care educators are also required to hold a current First Aid Certificate and Working with Children Card.
How to access
- Step 1: Complete the In Home Care (IHC) Application Form, which can be downloaded from the Department of Education website, here
- Step 2: Once you have completed the PDF Application Form, email the PDF and attached supporting evidence, to info@ihcsa.au
- Step 3: Allow up to 5 business days for your application to be assessed. The In Home Care Support Agency may contact you to request further information or evidence.
- Step 4: The IHC Support Agency will provide a notice of decision by email informing if eligibility has been met
Resources
Learn more about In Home Care: In Home Care - Department of Education, Australian Government
Contact the Victorian In Home Care Support Agency: Victoria | In home Child Care & Daycare | In Home Care Support Agency
