I use FDC and have done since Jazz was 3 months old. I think the rules in SA are different. There's no "no tv" rule. Both our old carer and our current carer always have the TV on with kids shows (the old carer would watch days of our lives and the news and things like that on Thursdays when she only had Jazz and her grandson).
Our old carer had all the toys in the family room but the kids were able to go almost anywhere in the house under supervision.

The new carer converted her double garage into the daycare room and all the toys are there. It's a really big space with its own entrance so you don't go into the actual house. The big room has play areas and an area for tv - but it's all open. There's even a desk for the school age kids to do homework.

I think the hours are set by you in negotiation with the parents. Some carers (like my old carer) have their own set hours or days (like our old FDC only worked Mon-Thurs, no public holidays, no weekends and no evenings). Our new carer will do 7 days a week by negotiation, and will go late into the evening by negotiation. She also does public holidays if required. She does charge double her hourly rate for weekends and public holidays though.

I don't know if I would have the patience to be a FDC person, but I admire those who are. My experience is that they are wonderful people and love kids. I think it's great that they open up their homes to kids like that.

If you decide to do it then I wish you all the best, I'm sure it's a hard but rewarding job. As a parent though, I love the home environment for my daughter's care.