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Family Day Care where children are cared for by other mothers in their own homes first introduced in Australia by the BSL (1971)

1971 

Family Day Care Service, where children of working mothers are cared for by other mothers in their own homes with help and guidance from a social worker and kindergarten teacher, began in September as a three year pilot project funded by four Melbourne Trusts.  Mrs Barbara Spalding carried out the studies that led to the experiment first introduced in Australia by the BSL. (BSL Annual Report 1971-1972, p.4)

1973

Family Day Care, halfway through the 3-year project, has forty children cared for by twenty-two local women,  and the Commonwealth Government gave a financial grant to assist with continuation for eighteen months

Limurru Child Care Centre (“a small-scale children’s nursery” in a local house purchased by the Brotherhood with funds from the Australian Government) opened in Napier Street, Fitzroy, originally established to support & complement the BSL’s Family Day Care program.  “The Family Day Care type of model has many positive features as a form of child care, but it is important that these features are tried in a group care setting.”  Three of the staff were local mothers and the fourth a mothercraft nurse. Limurru is an aboriginal word meaning “let us share together”. (BSL Annual Report 1972-1973, p.5; BSL Annual Report 1973-1974, p.4; BSL 1982, Proposal for Limurru Neighbourhood Parent & Children’s Centre)

1974

Research program, financed substantially by the BSL, under way to study the developments in Family Day Care programs in three districts - Fitzroy, Knox Shire and the Municipality of St Kilda.   “The present funds will be exhausted in September 1974.  Since its inception as the first project of this type under a voluntary agency’s auspices in Australia, several similar programs have been initiated, particularly by local councils. (BSL Annual Report 1973-1974, p.4)

1982

Family Day Care program (based in Limurru since 1973) transferred to the Fitzroy Council. 

1983

Co-ordinators report: Alderson, G 1983,  Limurru neighbourhood parent and children's centre

Outline of Objectives: BSL 1983, Limurru neighbourhood parent and children's centre

1984

Notes from Staff conference (Rye) - Limurru:  BSL 1984, Limurru notes from Rye staff conference

1986

Brief Description: BSL 1986, Limurru neighbourhood parents' and children's centre 

1991

2 people employed to run the new Occasional Child Care program in Craigieburn.

Family day care activities continue on to this day. For informationa bout current activities, visit the Brotherhood website: Family day care.