In-Home Care in Australia: How It Works

In-Home Care (IHC) is a subsidised Australian Government program in which an approved educator provides education and care in the child’s own home. It is designed for families who genuinely cannot access mainstream approved care such as a centre or family day care, because of their circumstances. Importantly, it is administered differently from most childcare: it operates as a Child Care Subsidy program delivered by approved In-Home Care providers, rather than as a service you simply choose. This guide explains what IHC is, who it is for, how it is administered, and how it differs from a nanny and from centre-based care.

What In-Home Care is

In-Home Care is a form of subsidised care delivered by an educator in the family’s home, rather than at a centre or an educator’s home. It exists to reach families for whom the usual options do not work, and it is deliberately targeted rather than open to everyone.

The defining features are that the care happens in the child’s own home, that it is delivered through approved In-Home Care providers, and that it is connected to the Child Care Subsidy so eligible families can receive support with the cost. It is a niche part of the system, intended to fill genuine gaps rather than to be a mainstream alternative to a centre.

Who it is for

In-Home Care is aimed at families who cannot reasonably access other approved childcare. The circumstances that can lead to eligibility commonly include:

• Non-standard or variable working hours, where care is needed at times mainstream services do not operate.
• Geographic isolation, where families live too far from centre-based care or family day care to use it.
• Complex or challenging circumstances, where a child’s or family’s needs are difficult to meet in a group setting.

The key point is that eligibility is assessed against the program’s rules, not simply chosen because a family would prefer care at home. Access to the program is limited, and the specific eligibility criteria are set and applied by the responsible government department. Families and educators alike should confirm current eligibility and availability directly rather than assuming they qualify.

How it is administered

This is where In-Home Care differs most from the rest of the sector, and where it is easy to get confused.

Most education and care services, including long day care, family day care and outside school hours care, are regulated under the National Quality Framework and the National Law. In-Home Care is administered differently. It sits within the Child Care Subsidy system as a subsidy program, delivered through approved In-Home Care providers rather than through the same provider and service approval pathway that applies to centres. A network of support arrangements underpins the program, helping to connect families with educators and to support delivery.

In practical terms, that means:

• Care is delivered by approved providers operating within the program’s rules, and by educators engaged under those arrangements.
• The program is connected to the Child Care Subsidy, so eligible families receive support with cost through that system.
• Oversight and administration are handled through the Australian Government framework for the program, rather than solely through the state or territory NQF pathway that governs centres.

Because the administrative detail of the program can change and is set by government, anyone considering becoming an approved In-Home Care provider, or a family seeking access, should confirm the current arrangements with the responsible department rather than relying on general descriptions.

How it differs from a nanny

In-Home Care and a private nanny can look similar on the surface, because in both cases an adult cares for children in the family’s home. The differences sit underneath.

A private nanny is generally a personal employment or engagement arrangement between a family and an individual. It is typically not subsidised, sits outside the Child Care Subsidy system, and does not carry the approvals, eligibility rules or program oversight that apply to In-Home Care.

In-Home Care is a formal, subsidised program. It involves approved providers, targeted eligibility, program rules and government administration. So while both deliver care at home, only In-Home Care connects an eligible family to subsidy support through an approved arrangement. If a family simply wants care at home and does not meet the program’s eligibility, that is a private nanny arrangement, not In-Home Care.

How it differs from centre-based care

The contrast with centre-based care is starker still.

• Location. Centre-based care happens at an approved premises built for the purpose; In-Home Care happens in the child’s own home.
• Group versus individual. A centre cares for groups of children with employed staff; In-Home Care typically supports a family in their own setting.
• Regulatory pathway. Centres operate under the National Quality Framework with Provider and Service Approval under the National Law. In-Home Care is administered as a Child Care Subsidy program through approved IHC providers.
• Purpose. Centre-based care is a mainstream option available broadly; In-Home Care is a targeted program for families who cannot access mainstream care.

If you are weighing up the different service types more broadly, our comparison guide on the main childcare service types sets them side by side, and our guide on applying for CCS approval explains the subsidy pathway that underpins funded care.

If you are considering becoming an approved In-Home Care provider, or you operate in the sector and want to understand where IHC fits alongside centre-based and family day care, we can help you make sense of the model and the obligations that come with it. Get in touch with our team, or explore our operational setup support to see how we help operators establish and run compliant services.

This guide is general information, not advice. In-Home Care is an Australian Government program administered through the Child Care Subsidy system, and its eligibility and delivery rules are set by the responsible department. Confirm current arrangements before acting.