The one-off incentive from Orange City Council aims to help with starting a Family Day Care business including buying beds, linen, insurance and car seats.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said there was a long waiting list for children needing home-based child care.

"Council's children's services department is very keen to find more educators willing to start up a business to care for some of those kids. The set-up costs of starting your own home-based business can be high, so this incentive program is designed to help people hit the ground running without having to borrow money, or deplete savings," he said.

Council's Employment and Economic Development Committee Chair Cr Tony Mileto said the funding would boost the economy.

"We're asking prospective Family Day Care educators to commit to staying with council's service for a minimum of 12 consecutive months," he said.

To be eligible people must be over 21 years of age, have a current Working With Children Check, or be willing to obtain one and have a successful application and interview to become a registered educator with Orange Family Day Care.

They also need to have a minimum Certificate III in Children's Services or be willing to enrol and work

towards this qualification, have a current ABN to receive the payment and be the home owner or have landlord permission to work from a rental property.

You can get more information at a playgroup at The Orange Occasional Care cottage in Kite Street from 5pm on March 31. Call 6393 8670 for details about the scheme.

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