Intereach will celebrate National Family Day Care Week, which runs from May 6 to 12 this year.
National FDC Week is about recognising and promoting the important role family day care educators and services play in the development and wellbeing of more than 155,000 children across Australia. Intereach Family Day Care will host a ‘bush play session’ in Echuca’s Banyule State Forest and a ‘nature play session’ in Deniliquin’s Island Sanctuary, both on Tuesday, May 7. Community members are invited to both events, which include a free morning tea. Intereach FDC nominated supervisor Bec Fitzpatrick said the nature-based play sessions will celebrate the many benefits of children playing freely outdoors. “Nature play helps children to be more active, resilient, creative and self-risk assess in their approach to play, thinking and problem solving, that’s why we wanted to hold both events outdoors in such beautiful, natural settings.”
Intereach partners with more than 50 educators to deliver high quality education and care in Deniliquin, Finley, Jerilderie, Berrigan, Tocumwal, Nanneella, Tennyson, Echuca, Moama, Rochester, Swan Hill and Kerang. Mrs Fitzpatrick said Intereach is a trusted organisation that offers personalised childcare from the educator’s home. FDC is available for babies and children under the age of 13.
“The best thing about our service is the small group care which focuses on forming quality relationships. Families choose the educator and care environment that best suits their needs.”
“We also offer extended and flexible childcare hours – care can be arranged on weekends, school holidays, overnight and before and after school.”
In the past 12 months, Intereach has again met the National Quality Standards for childcare services, in both Victoria and NSW. The organisation’s most recent National Standards assessment was in January 2019 for its Victorian service, while the NSW assessment was completed in June last year. “With significant changes to the National Quality Standards which came into effect in February 2018 this is a testament to the ongoing commitment to quality in all aspects of our services by educators and our staff,” Mrs Fitzpatrick said.
National Quality Standards set a national benchmark for the quality of education and care service and includes seven quality areas that are important to children: Educational Program and Practice; Health and Safety; Physical Environment; Staffing Arrangements; Relationships with Children; Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities; and Governance and Leadership.
Echuca FDC educator Sandra Sanderson said being an Intereach educator has given her some wonderful opportunities to share enjoyable learning experiences with the children and families.
“Family day care allows me flexibility to develop networks with the local community, and with parental permission we’re able to get out and about, learning from our diverse community which helps the children’s social awareness.”
Deniliquin-based FDC educator Lynda Grimison said she is grateful for her partnership with Intereach. “To have the supports provided by Intereach makes my job of creating a caring and nurturing environment for the children so much easier.”
Intereach will mark National FDC Week in Deni’s picturesque Island Sanctuary on May 7. Those attending are asked to meet at the Sanctuary’s side gates located near the mini rail on Memorial Park Drive at 10am.
Those attending the Echuca event are asked to meet at the Taras Hotel at 10am before travelling to the location.
For more information on FDC services or the morning tea, contact Mrs Fitzpatrick at Intereach on 1300 488 226.
