In August, we send our care requirements to our current families for the following year. Once this is compiled, we then go to the waitlist and begin offering positions around mid to late September. During the year, we may need to go to the waitlist, if a family leaves the Centre. Generally, our largest intake, is in January. It is very unlikely to get a mid-year intake.
Frequenlty Asked Questions
General Information
Children are required to attend the Centre a minimum of two days per week
We hold two Open Days per year. They are the third Saturday in May and September from 10-12. Both Centres are open.
Tours of the Centre, are on the Open Days. We will offer a tour to a family, when we are offering a position at the Centre.
Go to the Join the Waitlist Page on our website and follow the directions
That depends, on the age of the child and the given year.
That depends, on the age of the child and the given year.
The following guidelines regarding enrolment and priority of access are in accordance with Commonwealth guidelines.
- It is a condition of approval and continued approval for Child Care Benefit
- (CCB) purposes that Services must comply with Family Assistance Law.
The priority of Access Guidelines MUST be used by approved services to allocate available child care places where there are more families requiring care than places available.
The following guidelines regarding enrolment and priority of access are in accordance with Commonwealth guidelines.
Priority of access
Priority shall be accorded as follows:
- A child at risk of serious abuse or neglect
- The siblings of children already enrolled; a child of a single parent who satisfies, or of parents who both satisfy, the work/training/study test under Section 14 of the ‘A new Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999
- Any other child (priority is given to funded 4 year old and funded 3 year old children and their siblings).
No. You can contact either Centre and we can give you an indication of where you are, on the waitlist.
We offer an integrated funder kindergarten program at both our Centres. We have also opted into the Free Funded Kindergarten Program with the Victorian Government.
Essentially, the only differences between an integrated (long day care) program and a sessional program are the hours offered and the allocation of days within the timetable. Sessional kinder programs will only operate during school terms whereas integrated kinder programs operate all year long. Both programs will have a Bachelor Degree trained educator.
Under the ‘No Jab, No Play’ Legislation (1st January 2016), when enrolling a child, the Centre needs to first obtain evidence that the child is:
- Fully immunised for their age OR
- On a vaccination catch-up program OR
- Unable to be immunised for medical reason
To finalise enrolment, an Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (IHS) must be presented to the centre Manager. This is the only acceptable form of documentation and a child will be unable to attend the service until provided.
A ‘grace period’ applies to families experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage. If you feel this may apply to you please advise centre manager as your child may be able to attend our service while we support you in meeting the immunisation requirements
A parent section for our parents, this could be a tab or box we want the following headings, we will provide content for this:
Please visit Services Australia, to find out if you are eligible and how to apply for CCS https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy
Information for Parents
We are open 7:30-6:00, Monday to Friday. We take 2-3 weeks off over Christmas period.
When a child is visibly distressed and/or suffering from symptoms, such as those listed below, parents are required to pick up sick children within 90 minutes of notification. If the parent is unable to pick up the child within this time or if a parent cannot be contacted within 30 minutes, then the emergency contacts will be called. If no contact can be made with either the parents or emergency contacts, then an ambulance will be called.
Every effort will be made for an educator to accompany the child in the ambulance to hospital, however this will depend on child: educator ratios and may not be possible at the time.
Where possible, educators will remove the child away from direct contact with other children.
Signs and symptoms that a child is unwell:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Influenza or influenza like illnesses
- Shortness of breath
- Pain
- Dizziness or drowsiness
- Lethargic and decreased activity
- Poor feeding, not feeding
- A fever of 38°C or above
- Uncontrolled bleeding (for example a bleeding nose which cannot be controlled)
- Other symptoms, for example a rash, which the Centre Manager and educators believe could be indicative of a serious illness or could pose a serious risk to the health and wellbeing of the child, other children or educators
The Centre reserves the right for the child not to return to the Centre within 24 hours of showing any of these symptoms or until the child is well. If the child has vomiting or diarrhoea, they are not allowed to return to the Centre until 24hours after the last vomit or diarrhoea.
Please note, if we are under the guidance of the Department of Health during a gastro outbreak, children and siblings cannot return to the Centre until 48hours after their last symptom.
We provide morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. We support all allergies within the Centre.
Fees are paid via DebitSuccess. Families will be charged the balance of week 1 and week 2, fortnightly on the Thursday of week 1. Surcharge payable to Debitsuccess for use of Bank account or Visa/Mastercard (these are subject to change).
Fees are charged public holidays, sick days, annual leave
The weekly fee is payable at all times, including during absences taken by the family due to illness, public or other holidays, or for any other reason. The fees are non-payable during our Christmas closure. Families may be able to access Additional Childcare Subsidy (Child Wellbeing) in hardship situations
Children must be collected by 6.00pm. In the event of a late pick up, the following protocol shall apply:
- Parents shall sign a Late Pick Up Book, noting their time of arrival at the Centre
- A fee of $50.00 for every 15 minutes (or part thereof) will be levied after 6.00pm
- Wherever possible, families should ring to inform educators if they have been detained. However, the late pick up fee will still apply in order to cover educator costs
- The late fee will be billed on the next statement
- Requests to waive the late pick up fee must be made in writing to the Committee of Management, within one week
We offer an integrated funder kindergarten program at both our Centres. We have also opted into the Free Funded Kindergarten Program with the Victorian Government.
Essentially, the only differences between an integrated (long day care) program and a sessional program are the hours offered and the allocation of days within the timetable. Sessional kinder programs will only operate during school terms whereas integrated kinder programs operate all year long. Both programs will have a Bachelor Degree trained educator.
Two – three changes of clothes, sun hat, rain jacket, warm hat. If your child is learning to use the toilet, we recommended more undies and pants/shorts/skirts
Please visit Services Australia, to find out if you are eligible and how to apply for CCS https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy
Four weeks’ notice is required by the family for any changes to the booking (increasing or decreasing of days) or cancelling of care requirements. The notice must be given to the Centre Manager in writing, email is acceptable and during business operating hours
EMCC believes in play based learning as it is widely proven that children learn most effectively when they actively explore their surrounding environment, and are engaged in inquiry and holistic opportunities for development. Therefore, we value, support and create programs that facilitate meaningful and stimulating experiences in which children can thrive, enact their sense of Agency, use their imagination and enhance their interests.
Families are required to contribute five hours maintenance per year (pro rata for families who commence throughout the year). We recognise that some families are unable to make a contribution of time. A Maintenance Levy Fee of $100 will be charged to your account at the start of the year and a refund will be issued at the end of the year if you contribute