In home child carers wanted

MANAGEMENT at childcare centre, Bendigo Family Day Care, is having trouble recruiting suitable staff, which is coinciding with a rise in demand, and the dual challenges are putting pressure on the service.

The Bendigo Community Health run service is now seeking new staff to help combat worker shortages.

Unlike centre-based childcare, Bendigo Family Day Care is run out of approved homes by accredited workers.

Bendigo Family Day Care coordinator Tamarra Tie said waiting lists for families hoping to attend in 2023 and beyond are continuing to grow but staff numbers had dwindled during the pandemic.

“While we have less educators at present, we have parents who are preferring the intimate home-setting of family day care,” she said.

“Where illness isn’t as easily spread, and coughs and runny noses are more easily managed.”

Ms Tie said BCHS had also recently increased hourly payments for staff in hopes of attracting and keeping workers.

Deborah Towerton is an ex-mainstream childcare worker who decided to move into family day care, and she said she was pleased to have made the change.

“It’s been both financially and emotionally rewarding,” she said. “I’ve felt rewarded simply by being a part of an awesome service that works together to support not only the child but the family.

“Family day care is wonderful as you get opportunities for one-on-one with children. You share the good times and the bad.

“You laugh, cry, share wonderful moments, you even become a kid yourself at times. Over time, you become a part of their family and they a part of yours.”