What is in home care (IHC)?
In home care (IHC) is a form of child care where a qualified educator delivers one-to-one or small group care in the child's own family home, funded through government subsidies for eligible families.
In home care (IHC) puts a qualified educator into your child's own home to provide care during work, study, or other commitments. Unlike centre-based care or family day care, IHC is delivered in the family's domestic setting, which can suit children who benefit from familiar surroundings or families with irregular schedules or multiple children across different age groups.
An IHC educator holds qualifications recognised under the National Quality Framework and works under a duty of care agreement with the family. The arrangement is designed to be flexible. Care may be full-time or part-time, and sessions can be structured around the family's actual needs rather than centre operating hours.
IHC is subsidy-eligible for Australian families who meet income and activity requirements. The government contribution is applied directly to the educator's fees, with families paying any gap. This differs from family day care, where care is provided in the educator's own registered home environment.
Families in the Perth Metropolitan area seeking IHC providers should look for educators registered and approved through the relevant government child care subsidy schemes, ensuring they meet safety, qualifications, and insurance requirements before any arrangement begins.