Day carers up for national honour

BENDIGO Family Day Care is among the finalists in this year’s national Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.

The nomination places the service among Australia’s top four family day care providers.

Team members will travel to an awards gala dinner on Saturday 23 November at the Parkroyal Hotel in Parramatta, NSW, where the winner will be announced.

National awards – presented by Family Day Care Australia – are being given for coordinators, educators and services.

In another success for the region, Rebecca Paine of Foundations Family Day Care has been named one of the 2024 Regional Educator Award winners in the Bendigo, Goldfields and Macedon Ranges area as part of the national program.

BFDC is using news of the nomination as an opportunity to encourage more educators to join up.

“The entire team is absolutely thrilled,” coordinator Tamarra Tie said.

“Top four in all of Australia is absolutely crazy; we just need more educators to support families, as we are in dire need to recruit more people willing to run a small profitable business from their home.”

BFDC has been recognised for providing outstanding support to educators and for the wider impact they have on children, families and the local community.

The service, run by Bendigo Community Health Services, has been operating for 44 years.

“We are here to do what we can to meet individual needs and not just offer a one size fits all method,” Ms Tie said.

“We try to get to know each of the families and the educators in our service to ensure they both have a valuable experience.”

Ms Tie said it is not uncommon for staff to see a child come into the service from 12 weeks of age and stay with the same educator until they head to high school.

“What an amazing gift that is for us,” she said.

“[Fellow coordinator] Bec Fitzpatrick and I have gotten to know the families and the children in care on a first name basis and we are lucky enough to get daily calls from some educators with a child wanting to say ‘hi to Bec and Tam,’ which warms our heart.

“To help a family find suitable care and see and hear how well the educator has supported their family and become an extended family member is simply beautiful.”

Ms Tie said BFDC has had a waiting list of prospective families since February this year.

“We are actively looking for educators to join our service,” she said. “If you have a Certificate Three in Children’s Services or equivalent, Bec and I would love to hear from you as we cover all areas throughout the City of Greater Bendigo and the Loddon Shire.”

Other centres in the running for the Excellence in Family Day Care Award are All Areas Family Day Care (NSW), Whitsunday Shire Family Day Care (Queensland) and Northside Family Day Care Scheme (South Australia).