The History of the NZ Homebase Childcare Association
Why is the HBCA so important for the longevity of Homebased Education?
In 1987 the New Zealand Family Day Care Association (now known as the New Zealand Home-base Early Childhood Education Association) was formed to support service providers, visiting teachers and educators working in the sector with advocacy, professional development, workshops and collegial networking.
It has always been an incorperated society or non-profit organization which does not represent any one service but rather the viewpoints of all those that work in or use home-based childcare.
The Association membership is divided geographically into seven wards with each ward having an elected chair responsible to report back to the board of elected members. The New Zealand Home-Based Early Childhood Education Association advocates for the promotion of Home-based education and care in New Zealand as a quality early childhood option.
Wards meet meets regularly to discuss matters pertaining to the sector, provide collegial support, networking and professional development.
The main aims of NZ Home-Based ECE Association are to enhance the professional status of Home-based childcare throughout New Zealand, to advocate for the home-based childcare sector, to liase with government, to foster education and support programmes within home-based childcare and to provide a united voice from the home-based sector on relevant social issues.
Over the years the NZ Home-based ECE Association have provided representation on several working groups.
The Association has membership on ECAC (Early Childhood Advisory Committee), ECAC advises the Ministry of Education on changes to legislation policies and practice within the Ministry and other departments, e.g. Work and Income, who provided resources or services to the Early Childhoos sector. It is also a member f the Early Education Federation and the International Family Daycare Organisation.