FAQs for Services
What is it and what will you do with the information?
In the week commencing Monday 2nd December all FDCA educator and service members will be direct mailed a Mandate 2014 survey.
The survey responses are an important part of the broader Mandate 2014 project comprising information gathered at the 2013 FDCA Visions of Excellence in Family Day Care Symposium, a series of focus groups and via refinement from the National Members’ Forum.
The survey responses will assist in developing Mandate 2014 – the voice of family day care for the next term of government.
A report will be prepared and presented to government outlining a clear, united and broadly representative position on the key issues facing family day care.
What are the key issues?
The key issues include:
- The National Quality Framework
- Funding, Support and Sustainability
- Child care affordability and accessibility
- Workforce issues and service structure
What if the issues don’t affect me?
While the degree to which you are directly affected by the issues addressed within the survey may vary, they are all important issues that will impact the family day care our sector; as such your thoughts and opinions and important and valued.
What if my issues of concerned aren’t addressed in the questions?
Within the survey you have the opportunity to identify your own ‘top 3 issues’. You also have the opportunity to provide ‘additional comments’.
Do I/we have to answer all the questions?
In order for FDCA to develop a broadly representative position on the key issues facing the family day care sector, your thoughts and opinions are vitally important. Without your contribution others will speak on your behalf so it would be preferred if you could answer each of the questions within the survey.
When will the position be taken to government?
The final report is expected to be completed and presented to government in February 2014.
Will services and educators receive a summary/feedback from the responses gathered from the survey/s? How will this information be provided?
Once the report is complete it will be made available to the sector via the Mandate 2014 website. Members will be kept up to date on the progress and the results via the website and our online and social media communications.
Who is collating the results and are my responses anonymous?
Analysis and collation of the responses is being undertaken by Families at Work, an independent research company and all responses are non-identifiable, confidential and will be utilised for the purposes of this research only.
Why can’t I complete the survey online?
FDCA has experienced its highest levels of engagement and response via direct mail to members. Many members also have limited online access and given the importance of this project it was decided that direct mail was the most appropriate channel of communication.
Can I download the survey from the website or send in a photo copied version?
No, only original vesions of the survey will be accepted.
What is the meaning of Equivalent Full Time staff and how do I work this out for my service?
This is a measure of the size of the workforce engaged by your service. These staff may be employed as a mix of full time, part time and/or casual. One (1.0) equivalent full time staff is equal to 1 person employed full time (38 hours per week). If you add up all of the paid hours worked by all of your staff and divide it by 38 it will give you your number of equivalent full time staff calculation. e.g. 8 staff working a mix of full time, part time and/or casual paid hours totalling 237.6 per week = 6.25 EFT.
What is sustainability funding?
FDC Sustainability Assistance is an older model of child care service funding that is not available to new applicants. It is designed to support child care services with the ongoing, day to day costs of delivering quality, affordable child care and is targeted primarily towards a specific group of services. The payment is administered by the federal Department of Education.
What is Regional Travel Assistance?
Regional Travel Assistance (RTAG) is a support payment designed to assist FDC services and IHC services with the travel costs incurred by coordination staff. RTAG can only be claimed for journeys undertaken in order to support the service’s network of Educators. The payment is administered by the federal Department of Education.
Is the survey available in other languages?
Unfortunately the survey is not available in other languages. If you have trouble understanding the survey, please contact your Approved Service.
Can we get more copies for our service staff?
The survey response from your service should be representative of the views/opinions/positions of the service as a whole and not of the individuals within the service. As such, only a single survey response is required from your service.
We have educators who aren’t members can we get surveys for them?
The survey has been direct mailed to every FDCA member. Additional surveys are not available for non members.
When does the survey need to be returned?
The survey needs to be posted no later than Wednesday 18 December within the reply paid envelope that came enclosed with your survey.