The revised In Home Care (IHC) program was introduced in July 2018, as part of the Child Care Package. This is the final evaluation report for the IHC program, drawing on data collected up to February 2020.

This revised IHC program replaced the previous IHC program and the Nanny Pilot Programme, with the program's objective being to support families' workforce participation and early childhood education and care requirements where other approved child care services are not available or appropriate. The program is directed at families in geographically isolated areas, working non-standard or variable hours, and those with complex or challenging needs.

The evaluation reports on the measures of success for the IHC program:

• IHC is targeted to families that meet IHC eligibility criteria.
• IHC Support Agencies support IHC families through matching services and educators to family care needs.
• Families transition from IHC to other care types as appropriate.
• Families access other support services to complement child care provision.
• IHC places are allocated by IHC Support Agencies in accordance with target distribution.
• Families receive quality child care from IHC services.

Key findings

• Overall, the revised IHC program is operating as intended by supporting the three cohorts of families to access ECEC when other forms are ECEC are not appropriate or available. But there is a very significant challenge to it being a completely successful program given that IHC cannot be supplied to all who are eligible for it.
• The supply of educators for IHC needs very significant attention for the program to be delivered effectively.
• Overall, the findings suggest that these agencies are focusing on supporting families' access to IHC and to other services as needed. It is perhaps too soon to say if the introduction of IHC Support Agencies has made a significant difference to the delivery of a nationally consistent program.