Emergency closure procedures

In the lead up to the festive season and the Enhance Family Day Care office closures, it is vitally important to ensure you are supported and prepared in the event of an emergency. 

The Enhance FDC offices will be closed from Saturday 24 December 2022, to Sunday 8 January 2023, in celebration of the holiday season. If you experience an emergency during this closure period, please contact us via our emergency number, 07 3899 1655. 


Emergency situations include: 

• When a child visits a doctor or the hospital due to an incident that occurred whilst in care. 
• The health and wellbeing of an Educator is affected and cannot work.
• A confirmed case or close contact of COVID-19.
• The closure of an Educator's service due to a natural disaster or if directed by Queensland Health.

Non-emergency situations include:

• Enrolments of new children.
• Changes in booking requests.
• PIN issues or Harmony issues (please use paper timesheets if required).

The on call process for the holiday season involves:

1. Confirm the event as an emergency situation by referring to the above list. 
2. Contact the Enhance emergency number (07 3899 1655).
3. Explain the situation and await assistance regarding appropriate action.

If an emergency was to occur i.e. a bushfire or flood, Enhance Family Day Care will make the decision to close a service, if schools in the area are also closed. If you have received an order to evacuate, or other warnings from an emergency service, please evacuate immediately and inform your Enhance service as soon as it is safe to do so.

In the event of an emergency, our primary concern is to ensure you, all children, families and the local community are safe. If our office is ordered to evacuate, you will receive an email from us informing you of our whereabouts.

Bushfires and Asthma
Smoke from bushfires is a common trigger among children and adults with respiratory conditions, like asthma. In the event of an emergency, such as bushfires, it is vital to understand the risks and know how to take appropriate action. Asthma Australia has some helpful tips on how to minimise the effect of bushfire smoke, which can be accessed by clicking the button below:

Taking care this storm season
With storm and cyclone season approaching, it is important to know what to do in the event of a natural disaster, this includes having emergency kits and plans in place.
If you require assistance, please contact your Service.

For general information and resources on how to stay safe during a storm, please visit the Queensland Government's Get Ready Queensland website by clicking the button below:

R U OK? Mateship Manual
The new R U OK? Mateship Manual provides guidance and tips to help you support a family member, friend, neighbour or workmate affected by a natural disaster or an emergency now and into the future.

Find out how you can help someone who's doing it tough because of a natural disaster or emergency by clicking on the button below:

I thank you in advance for your assistance in upholding these processes for the duration of the holiday period.
 
Kind regards

Cathy Cahill

General Manager, Children Services

Resignation Announcement

Cathy Cahill

General Manager, Children Services

It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation as FDCQ General Manager Children Services. After more than eight years of service with Family Day Care Queensland, including four years as General Manager Children Services, I have made the challenging decision to take a break to spend time with my family.

It has been an honour and privilege to work with you, our dedicated and inspiring Educators. Your resilience and strength through times of challenge and change will stay with me forever. Thank you for your commitment to children and families. You are an inspiration to us all. I have learnt so much along this journey and will miss connecting in with you during our Educator meetings and our face to face visits.

Leading Enhance Family Day Care and Capricornia In Home Care has been a career highlight and I will always reflect fondly on my time with the organisation. I would like to posthumously thank Peta McNellie, former FDCQ CEO for her professional guidance, her confidence in me and her unrivalled passion for the sector.

As I leave my role, I depart knowing that Enhance Family Day Care and Capricornia In Home Care is in competent and capable hands. I feel extremely proud of the work we have accomplished over the last four years and know the team will continue to work hard with streamlining systems and processes to support you with the valuable work you do.

Jason de Bakker, FDCQ Chief Executive Officer, with Meg Walsh, Children Services Manager and the Children Services leadership team, will be reviewing our structure and arrangements for 2023 over the coming weeks. Further information will be communicated with you in due time.

My final day in the role of General Manager will be Friday 23 December.

I thank you for the opportunity to have led you, with my head and my heart, and for the support and remarkable work you do with children, families and for the Family Day Care sector. Thank you.

It has been a privilege and a joy to have worked with you. Moving forward, I wish you all the very best to lead, grow and promote exceptional home-based education and care.

Kind regards

Cathy Cahill

Children Services General Manager