Guide
Choosing Between Family Day Care and Long Day Care
Both family day care (FDC) and long day care (LDC) are approved child care services under the National Quality Framework. Here's how they compare to help you choose.
The Key Difference
The fundamental difference is the setting and group size. Family day care happens in an educator's home with a small group of children (maximum 7, with no more than 4 under school age). Long day care operates in purpose-built centres with larger groups, multiple rooms, and multiple educators.
Both types of services are required to:
- Go through compliance, assessment, and rating under the National Quality Standard
- Provide an educational program using an approved learning framework
- Employ qualified educators
- Maintain educator-to-child ratios throughout the day
- Appoint an educational leader
Both are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 🏡 Family Day Care | 🏫 Long Day Care | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Educator's home or approved venue — a domestic, home-like environment | Purpose-built centre with dedicated indoor and outdoor spaces |
| Group Size | Small groups — maximum 7 children total, no more than 4 under school age per educator | Larger groups — determined by room size and regulatory authority. Often 15-25+ children per room, grouped by age |
| Educator-to-Child Ratio | 1 educator : 7 children (max 4 under school age). Educator's own children under 13 count in the total | 1:4 (birth-24mo), 1:5 (24-36mo), 1:11 (36mo-school age). Multiple educators per room |
| Age Groups | Mixed ages — birth to 12 years in one group. Siblings can be together | Usually separated by age — e.g. 0-2 room, 2-3 room, 3-5 room |
| Opening Hours | Can vary — some offer non-standard hours, weekends, overnight, and school holidays | Typically 7am-6pm weekdays. Some offer extended hours |
| Meals | May or may not be included. Many educators cook fresh meals at home | May or may not be included. Some use external catering services |
| Excursions | Regular community outings — library, parks, playgroups, kindy gym. Part of the educator's routine | Planned excursions and incursions (visitors to the centre). May include music, sports, languages |
| Continuity of Care | Same educator every day. When on leave, children go to another FDC educator's home with orientation visits | Multiple educators. When one is away, a casual/replacement educator covers |
| Supervision | FDC coordination unit — a coordinator visits the educator's home regularly to provide guidance and monitor quality | Nominated supervisor on-site. Management oversees day-to-day operations |
| Fees | Often lower than LDC. Varies by educator and location | Varies widely. Metropolitan centres can be $120-180+/day |
| CCS Eligible | Yes — same Child Care Subsidy entitlements as LDC | Yes — CCS applies to all approved services |
| Quality Rating | Assessed and rated under the NQS like all approved services | Assessed and rated under the NQS like all approved services |
🏫 Long Day Care in Detail
How it works
Long day care centres are purpose-built (or purpose-adapted) facilities designed specifically for children's education and care. Children are typically grouped into rooms by age, with each room staffed by a team of educators who work in shifts throughout the day.
Group sizes and rooms
The number of children a centre can enrol is determined by the state or territory regulatory authority, based on the size of the building and outdoor play space. A typical centre might have:
- Nursery (0-2 years): Smaller rooms with lower ratios (1:4). Gentle routines, lots of floor play, sensory experiences.
- Toddlers (2-3 years): Slightly larger groups (1:5 ratio). More structured activities, language development focus.
- Pre-kindy/Kindy (3-5 years): Larger groups (1:11 ratio). School readiness, literacy and numeracy foundations, more complex play.
Programs and activities
Depending on the centre's philosophy, programs may include:
- Structured and unstructured play-based learning
- Excursions to parks, libraries, community spaces
- Incursions — visiting performers, sports coaches, music teachers
- Specialised programs in languages, STEM, or the arts
- Regular outings (library visits, post office trips, café walks)
Services must get your written permission before taking children on excursions, and must conduct and share a risk assessment of the location and transport.
Staff arrangements
LDC centres employ multiple educators who typically work morning or afternoon shifts. This means your child may interact with several different educators throughout the day. While this provides variety, it can affect continuity — especially for young babies who thrive on consistent caregivers.
🏡 Family Day Care in Detail
How it works
Family day care educators operate from within their own home or an approved venue. They are registered with a FDC scheme (coordination unit) that provides oversight, support, and quality monitoring. A coordinator from the scheme makes regular visits to the educator's home.
Group sizes and ratios
One educator can care for a maximum of 7 children, with no more than 4 children under school age. The educator's own children are counted in this total if they're under 13 and there's no other adult present to care for them.
This small group size is one of FDC's biggest advantages — children get more individual attention and can form deep bonds with their educator.
Mixed age groups
Unlike LDC where children are grouped by age, FDC children of different ages learn and play together. This has real benefits:
- Older children develop empathy and leadership by helping younger ones
- Younger children learn from watching older children
- Siblings can be cared for together in one place
- Mirrors the natural social environment of a family
Community and outings
FDC has a strong community focus. Educators are encouraged to take children on regular community outings — to the library, local park, playgroups, kindy gym, museums, and community gardens. FDC educators often network with each other, allowing children to socialise with other FDC groups at play sessions.
When the educator is on leave
This is an important consideration. In FDC, there's usually just one educator. When they take leave, your child may need to attend another FDC educator's home. Good FDC schemes plan for this with:
- Advance notice of leave dates
- Orientation visits to the replacement educator's home
- Pairing educators who share similar philosophies
Tips for Choosing
Think about your values
Consider what matters most — small group intimacy vs. a social environment? Home-like setting vs. purpose-built facilities? Consistency of one educator vs. a team?
Visit both types
Don't rule out either option until you've visited. The feel of a place matters as much as the facts. Visit during operating hours to see educators in action.
Ask these questions
- What is the service's NQS quality rating?
- Is there a waiting list, and how long?
- What is the service's philosophy?
- Have there been recent staff changes?
- How many educators will be with your child?
- Has the service been sold recently?
For FDC specifically, ask
- Does the educator attend playgroups? How often?
- How often does the coordinator visit?
- Who else will be at the home during care hours?
- What's the educator's early childhood experience?
- What leave arrangements are in place?