Child minders or professional child care worker? Perceptions of family day care providers

Abstract

This paper examines Australian family day care providers’ perceptions of three areas of critical concern to the child care industry: attitudes concerning the personal qualities and skills which are considered important for working with children, attitudes relating to the concept of quality care and attitudes regarding the professional status of their role. The findings of the survey indicated that family day care providers possessed a good understanding of their role in relation to what constitutes quality care and the qualities and skills which contribute to quality care. The majority of providers perceived the role in professional terms although the need for broader understanding of some professional aspects of the role was evidenced.