When is a Nanny not a Nanny? - CareforKids.com.au®

When is a Nanny not a Nanny?
When he/she's an Early Learning In Home Educator!

Article by Louise Dunham:

I do wish there could be a proper understanding of the nanny issue. On the one hand Australia already has a government subsidized In Home Care scheme (i.e. CCB/CCR rebates). It covers those that are eligible i.e. shift workers working either fully or part non standard hours; those with three or more children under school age; those with children with special needs or an illness that precludes them from Long Day Care; those in a remote or rural area; or parents needing respite or help because the main carer (usually the mother) is very ill.

All this is explained fully on the DEEWR government website under Early learning In-Home childcare. This program has run since 2001 and has just been expanded nationwide by 790 new places.

The difference is the "In Home Carers" are not called "nannies"; they are called Early Learning In-home Childcare Educators – although it is the same job in my opinion and in terms of the international definition of what constitutes a "nanny".

People who are not eligible for the Child Care Benefit will not be eligible for In Home Care. Furthermore, parents who can access other forms of childcare, but want a nanny or those who want child care when other forms of approved care (such as Long Day Care) are available will not meet the eligibility requirements either.

Those that have nannies and want them rebated do not understand that the Child Care Management System (CCMS) that currently handles all CCB/CCR rebates is not set up for individual families or non-government approved nanny agencies to receive rebates.

With rebates comes greater responsibility. Who will ensure that nannies do not continue to be paid cash in hand as is rife at present with internet sites such as gumtree.com.au and Findababysitter.com.au advertising jobs well below market rates?

Who will ensure that timesheets are a true and correct record? Who will ensure that nannies are professionally screened, paid correctly at award rates and receive training and professional development?

The best option from both viewpoints is to take the In Home Care scheme and extend by dropping the requirement that they must be unable to access other forms of government approved childcare.

For more information visit Placement Solutions.

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