Licensed Children’s Services

On 25 May 2009 the amended Children’s Services Act 1996 (Act) and the new Children’s Services Regulations 2009 (Regulations) commenced.

The Act amendments are part of the Victorian Government’s five-year agenda for learning and development from birth to adulthood, set out in the Blueprint for Education and Early Childhood Development.  The Blue Print advocates that all children should have access to high quality learning experiences integrated with care wherever they are, including for the first time, in outside school hours care and family day care services.

The Act and Regulations prescribe a number of changes including requirements for teaching staff members, staff training, child/staff ratios, and minimum ages of staff. Transitional provisions relating to changes will enable licensed children’s services time to comply with the new requirements.

What is a children’s service in Victoria?

In Victoria, services that are required to hold a licence are children’s services that:

• provide care and education for 4 or more children who are under the age of 13 years in the absence of their parents or guardians
• for fee or reward or while the parents or guardians of the children use services or facilities provided by the proprietor.

What type of service requires a licence?

Centre-based children’s services including long day care, kindergarten and occasional care services; outside school hours care services. Family day care services will also require a licence.

Children’s services are managed by a variety of providers including: local councils, school councils, non-government agencies, parent committees, private businesses, TAFE colleges and universities.  

When is a licence not required?

Care and education services that are not required to be licensed by the Victorian Government include:

• care by relatives, private nannies or babysitters operating in the child's own home 
• a service principally conducted to provide instruction in a particular activity or sport e.g. dance, music or religious instruction
• care of children six years or over or who are school students being cared for under an informal arrangement e.g. a neighbour or friend of a parent.

 

More information

• Children’s Services Legislation – outlines the requirements for a children's service in Victoria
• Regulations Review – information about the review of Children's Services Regulations 1998
• Children's Services Register – provides an up-to-date list of the standard and restricted licensed services in Victoria
• Children's Services Guidelines – contains practice notes and guides to managing and operating a licensed children's service in Victoria as well as the Outdoor Play Guide and the Design Guide for Victorian Children's Services
• Licensing Forms, Fees and Penalties - children's services licensing fees and penalties (Schedule 2 of the Regulations) are indexed annually.
• Child Care Benefit – Commonwealth government support for families
• Early Childhood Qualifications - includes information about the names of the qualifications and institutions from which a qualification is recognised for work as a qualified staff member in licensed children's services and in funded kindergarten programs in Victoria.

 

Who to contact?

Children's Services Advisers are located at the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development regional office. See: Regional Offices (PDF - 50Kb)