Yes all our Babysitters, Nannies, Educators and Support workers must have the below certification up to date:

•       Working with Children Check DCSI Clearance (remove)

•       First Aid Certificate (HLTAID011) 

•       CPR Certificate (HLTAID009)

•       Responding to risk or Harm Abuse or Neglect (RRHAN) or Safe Environments for Children (SEC)

Yes all Educators are employed by Little Poppins - they’re not contractors.

• We manage all employment obligations, including superannuation, insurance, and Workcover.

• Care is available any time or day, with penalty rates between midnight–6am and on Sundays.

• Remote Educators are supported by a dedicated Educator Support Coordinator

Yes all new clients / families need to fill in the Family Registration form before making a booking. This ensure we have all your details on file and terms and conditions are agreed.

Nanny
A nanny provides general childcare and can also support the household with light housework, such as: tidying children’s areas, folding washing, light meal preparation, general household assistance.

Their role is flexible and guided by the family’s needs. Qualifications are optional, and there are no national education requirements.

In Home Care Educator
An In Home Care (IHC) Educator is a qualified early childhood professional (Certificate III, Diploma or higher). Their role is focused on childcare, education, and supporting children’s development. They work under national regulations and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Their primary responsibility is the care, safety, and early learning of the children.

Support Services

• Provide high-quality care and supervision

• Support children’s learning and development

• Follow routines that promote wellbeing

• Prepare simple meals for the children

• Maintain a safe and clean environment related to the children (e.g., cleaning up after activities or meals)

What is outside the scope of an IHC (In Home Care) Educator?

IHC Educators cannot:

• Perform general household cleaning (vacuuming, mopping, bathrooms, full kitchen cleaning)

• Do family laundry

• Cook family meals

• Run errands for the household

• Homeschool or deliver formal school curriculum (they can support learning, but they cannot replace a registered school or teacher)

• Provide medical or nursing care

Yes, in most cases, for ongoing placements, your weekly minimum booked hours still apply, even if your child is sick or your family takes leave. These hours are reserved specifically for your Educator, similar to holding a regular childcare position. Here’s how it works:

• If you give more than 2 weeks’ notice of your planned leave (including public holidays where the Educator is not required), your weekly minimum hours will be charged at a discounted rate, and the session will be recorded as an absence for CCS.

• If you give less than 2 weeks’ notice, your weekly minimum hours will be charged at the full rate, and the session will be recorded as an absence for CCS.

• Families have 42 allowable absence days per financial year under CCS.

You are not charged if your Educator is unavailable due to illness or their own unforeseen absence.

Yes, your Educator can take children on excursions, but written authorisation is required before any outing.

• Routine excursions (like school pick-ups or drop-offs) can be approved with ongoing consent by completing the Little Poppins Excursion Risk Assessment Form once for each regular route. This form must be updated and signed every 12 months, or sooner if there are changes (e.g., school location, number of children, route).

• One-off excursions (like visits to a zoo, museum, or park) require a new Excursion Risk Assessment Form for each trip, including details such as date, route, transport, and a risk assessment.

• Your Educator is responsible for identifying, assessing, and managing any hazards to ensure your children’s safety during every excursion, even if they are familiar with the location.

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The cost of IHC depends on your Child Care Subsidy (CCS) percentage. The subsidy is calculated from the Government’s hourly cap ($39.80/hr), not the actual amount your provider charges.

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For example:

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• If your CCS is 85%, you receive approximately $33.83 per hour.

• If your Educator’s rate is $52/hr, your out-of-pocket cost would be around $18.17/hr ($52 - $33.83).

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Other notes:

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• Services Australia may withhold 5% of your subsidy during the year; this is generally reconciled in your annual tax return.

• You can use the Childcare Subsidy Calculator to estimate your costs.

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• Care is charged per family, not per child

• Educators may contribute to board and meals, helping reduce costs further

• Families may be eligible for up to 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight

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The Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) is extra financial support from the Australian Government for families who need help to access childcare.

• It is available for families experiencing financial hardship, temporary special circumstances, or who are at risk of serious neglect or abuse.

• ACCS can help cover the cost of In Home Care, making it more affordable for families who need full-time care in their home.

• Little Poppins can apply for ACCS on your family’s behalf. We will require two supporting documents from a recognised agency to demonstrate the family’s need.

• Eligibility and the amount of subsidy are assessed individually by Services Australia.

The MBSA Home Help Service provides free in-home support to South Australian families with twins, triplets, or more, including those in rural areas. Funded by SA Health through the Women’s and Children’s Health Network, the program pairs approved families with qualified MBSA nannies via Little Poppins. This hands-on support helps families manage the challenges of raising multiples and gives them the best chance for a smooth and successful start in the first year.

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SUPPORT

· 18 hours per family

· Government Funded - MBSA Nanny Fee $65ph (Families pay $0)

· 3-hour blocks over 6-week period

SUPPORT SERVICES

· Feeding assistance – support whilst breast or bottle feeding

· Preparation of babies / children’s formula or food, Cleaning of bottles and equipment

· Bathing babies / children

· Settling babies and supervision of sleep

· Playtime with babies / children

· Caring for the babies whist you spend time with other children

· Light household tasks

· Support whilst attending appointments / playgroups

· Identify resources available to families within the community

· Share ideas about baby and child related care

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MBSA CRITERIA

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CRITERIA

To access MBSA services with Little Poppins, participants must:

· Live in South Australia (Including Rural Areas)

· Families with twins, triplets, or more

· Children aged birth to 12months (Corrected age)

LEARN MORE / RESOURCES

· Family registers through MBSA for approval

homehelp@multiplebirthsa.org.au

‍ ‍Home Help Service - Multiple Birth SA

· Approval sent from MBSA to Little Poppins

· Little Poppins places MBSA Nanny with Family

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Yes. There is a three-hour minimum for every booking. Should you dismiss the nanny sooner, you will still be ‘charged’ for the three hours.  Should the booking need to be cancelled less than 24 hours prior to the nanny’s arranged start time, a cancellation fee equivalent to 3 hours of the nanny’s time will apply.

At Little Poppins, we are committed to supporting our employees and creating a positive work environment. We offer: 

• Dedicated support and guidance throughout career

• Full employee benefits, including entitlements (Super / Nanny Insurance / Work Cover etc.)

• Personal and individualised family match 

• Flexible work times available

• Supportive, inclusive workplace culture

• Be part of a caring, values-driven team making a real difference