Flexible childcare in a safe and friendly home environment

Amanda

Hours: Monday – Friday 8am – 5.15pm

Amanda

Qualifications: Diploma in Children’s Services, first aid, Asthma anaphylaxis and many short courses related to early childhood education and care.

About me: I began my career in the Early Childhood industry in 2001 and have worked in long daycare, out of school care and in 2010 joined the Intereach Family Day Care team.

My service: I offer a range of experiences in my program, from intentional teaching, spontaneous, building on children’s interests, children’s strengths, and areas they may need improving. This is supported by the Early Years Learning Framework. We have regular outings in the community and meet with other educators to provide larger group interactions and opportunities. We also offer ‘Storypark’ communication where your child’s time in care is documented, evaluated and experiences planned for each individual child, to which you have 24/7 access.  My aim is to build loving, trusting relationships with children and families and to give children a sense of a home away from home.

My facility: We live on five acres close to town, allowing us to have room for chooks, a large bird aviary, a cat, fruit trees, vegetable gardens to observe and care for.  Indoors we have a playroom set up according to children’s interests.

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8am to 4.30pm (negotiable)

Angela

About me:

Regional Winner for Wagga Wagga and Riverina Area in the The Family Day Care Educator of the Year in 2017 and 2018.

My facility:

The children have a vegetable garden they tend to and we use the produce in cooking experiences or they have the opportunity to take it home. We also spend time looking after the general garden and our plant stall in the front driveway where the children sell succulents, seedlings and packets of seeds and use the money earned to buy new supplies for the garden.

Change Hours of operation:

Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm or by negotiation.

Annette

Qualifications: Certificate III in Children’s Services; Diploma of Children’s Services; Diploma of Management; Provide an emergency First Aid response in an education and care setting (First Aid) and identify and respond to children and young people at risk (child protection).

My service: I offer children stimulating learning experiences and activities with a daily routine that is flexible to cater for the needs of the individual child. I develop a monthly program that is based on your child’s interests, allows for free play, spontaneous and intentional teaching activities unique to your child and the group.  By providing a mixture of these teachings provides your child with opportunities to extend their current knowledge but will also open them up to wonderful new and exciting opportunities.   I take daily observations that will help me to program to support your child and foster group learning while also meeting the requirements of the regulations and the National Quality Framework.

Facility: I provide a purpose-built room that caters to the needs of the children while maintaining an at-home feel. there is a sleeping room and outdoor area to cater specific to the children’s ages 

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8 am-4 pm

Belinda

Qualifications: Certificate III in Children’s Services; CPR First Aid/Anaphylaxis/Child Protection; Shared Stories, Shared Lives (Foster Care); Be You – Beyond Blue; Voices of Autism; Yarn Strong Sista (Aboriginal).

Personal background: I have a blended family of two children, three stepchildren and six grandchildren.

Career background: I had a range of careers before entering the Family Day Care sector as an educator with Bass Coast Family Day Care in 2006. Since this time, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with children of all ages – from babies as young as two months old to primary school aged children. We are also Foster Carers.

My service: I offer a flexible, secure and safe environment with a daily routine that incorporates a variety of structured and free play activities based around the individual needs of each child and their family requirements. Every child is unique and learns at his or her own pace. I believe working with families is paramount in providing the best possible care for your child.

My facility: It offers a large indoor area where children have the ability to be able to choose from age appropriate activities as well as intentional teaching activities which I have set up. We also have separate rooms available for sleep or quiet time and the facilities for indoor outdoor play to cater for the different ages and interests of a child.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am to 5.30pm (flexible start and finish times depending on parents’ work commitments).

Colleen

Qualifications: I have been a Family Day Care Educator for the past 15 years. I originally started my home based service due to my love of children, and I could also envisage it being a fulfilling and rewarding career.  I follow the Early Learning Years Framework and regularly attend training and webinars to educate myself and improve my skills. I have also been a registered educator since 2004

My service: I provide a warm, inclusive and educational environment, recognising that all children are unique individuals, with different needs and qualities. They all deserve to feel safe and secure. Developing relationships with both the child and their family is my priority. This is achieved through regular and effective communication as well as being inclusive of religious and cultural beliefs. I offer a fun, educational experience in a home based setting by providing a program that supports the individual child. I offer many and varied activities, such as music, natural play and incorporating the children’s interests into our program.

My facility: I provide an atmosphere where the children are free to explore, have fun and learn. This involves intentional teaching and spontaneous play. We are also active community participants, attending ‘Story-time’ and Playgroup weekly. We also meet up with the other local educator and her children regularly. We go to the schools for any functions as well as preschool. I program in response to observations and documentation of children’s strengths, abilities and interests. We have fun and the children form strong bonds with myself and each other.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm (or on a needs basis).

Debbie

Qualifications: Diploma Early Childhood, Certificate III Teacher’s Aide

About me: I have been a registered educator since 2017 with over 20 years of experience in the Early Childhood Sector. For 10 years I also worked as a teacher’s aide for children with special needs. I am a mother of three and a grandmother of five awesome grandchildren.

My service: I provide each child with a flexible but stable routine. Children learn about respecting all cultures and I promote a focus on building relationships of respect and trust.

My facility: is located in a quiet cul-de-sac in Kooringal, Wagga Wagga. There is a large backyard with lots of outdoor toys, a covered concreted area that is great for riding bikes scooters as well as a sandpit, cubby house, climbing frame and more.

Hours: Monday – Thursday 8 am-5 pm, Casual care is available on Friday and Saturday.

Dianne

Qualifications: Diploma of Children’s Services (Early childhood, education and care)

About me: After having my own three children I decided a career in Childcare was what I wanted. Family Day Care was the perfect choice for me, as it provided a good balance for my family. After being an educator since 1996 I’m still loving my work. I am now caring for my own grandchildren – so my job couldn’t get any more rewarding.

My service: This is guided by the National Quality Standards, Early Years Learning Framework, My Time Our Place and VEYLF. I believe children learn best through play, as play provides opportunities for children to develop a strong sense of identity and wellbeing, connect and contribute to their world, become confident and involved learners, and learn to communicate effectively. I believe in working collaboratively with children and families to build trusting, respectful and meaningful relationships.

My facility: I have plenty of indoor and outdoor space for exploring, and it is cool in summer and warm in winter. I supply all meals (except formula) which is included in my fees.

Hours: Tuesday, 7.30am to 4pm; Wednesday-Thursday, 7.30am to 5.30pm; Friday 7.30am to 4pm.

Emma

Qualifications: After completing my Diploma in Children’s Services in 1996 I worked in Long Day Care with children aged 0-12 years. I hold my Level 2 First Aid Certificate, including Asthma and Anaphylaxis training, Child Protection training and participate in ongoing regular professional development to keep my skills and knowledge up to date.

About me: I am a mother of two children. Once I had my own family I wanted to spend more time with them so decided to work from home. I have worked in Family Day Care since 2009 and really love the home environment for children to learn and play.

My service: The option of getting out in the community to support children’s connection to where they live is something that occurs regularly in my service.  I believe the first few years of a child’s life are the most influential; this is when children learn the most. I offer children consistent care with fun, age-appropriate, challenging learning experiences in a safe, secure home environment which enables children to grow and develop. I believe by providing care where children can have more one-on-one time with educators allows them to build strong self-confidence and self-esteem and the ability to deal with everyday issues and communicate their needs. Given these opportunities, children can grow up and be the best at what they choose to do. Family Day Care is great for building partnerships between carers, children and families. It is important to show respect and give lots of positive nurturing. I believe it is important to communicate openly with families to provide quality child care options. I also believe it is important to set rules and guidelines for children in my care so they feel comfortable and confident.

Hours: Monday  6am – 5:30pm, Tuesday  6am – 5:30pm, Wednesday 6am – 5pm , Thursday 6am – 4pm, Friday 6am – 5:30pm – negotiable to meet the needs of families.

Faye

Qualifications: Certificate III

About me: I have been working in Family Daycare since 2003 and have experience with disabled children.

My service: My service offers outdoor play, nature walks, visiting other educators for group activities, arts and crafts, free play, and excursions to the botanical gardens.  All outings comply with safety standards and policies. The children have input in the activities we do each day as I believe it’s important to cater to their interests.

My facility: I have a big backyard with a raised cubby house with shade attached. The children can play on the Swings, sandpit, and trampoline as well as ride bikes and scooters in our huge undercover area. Children can also have fun with the fairy garden and they enjoy collecting fresh produce from the veggie garden.

Hours: Monday – Friday 8am -5.30pm

Jenny

Qualifications: Professional Development (grandfathering); Professional Learning (Early Years Framework); First Aid; Asthma Management Training; Anaphylaxis Training; Working With Children check; Child Protection Training.

About me: I have worked in the early childcare sector since 1989, and it is something that I’m truly passionate about. I have three adult children and 11 grandchildren. I am passionate about providing children with a high quality home based environment, ensuring they always feel comfortable and enjoy a warm and nurturing environment which will help stimulate their interest in play, to feel confident to engage in learning relationships with me, the educator, and also their peers. Children will have opportunities to explore, experiment, discover and to be creative to solve problems and to also express their ideas.

 My service: I provide children with a safe, nurturing environment, where they are free to learn at their own pace through a combination of play, child initiated experiences and intentional teaching. I plan for the children’s learning based on their individual interests and needs guided by the Early Years Learning Framework. The children in my care will have opportunities to explore the community with regular visits to the local park, library as well as organised excursions and activities based on the children’s interests and developmental milestones. This provides opportunities for the children to reach their potential in all areas of their development.

 My facility: The children have access to a range of toys, equipment and resources with planned activities throughout the day. Our daily routine incorporates a variety of structural and free play activities, such as playdough, blocks, puzzles, drawing, painting open ended resources, painting, outdoor play, group activities, music, movement, language, literacy experiences and more. I have a large grassed outdoor area covered by large trees where the children can enjoy many outdoor experiences such as gross motor toys, bikes, ride-on, tunnels and balls, whilst enjoying the natural outdoor space.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7am to 6pm (negotiable).

Jo

Qualifications: Certificate III in Child Care; First Aid Certificate; Asthma and Anaphylaxis Management; Child Protection training; ongoing professional development.

About me: I have worked as a Family Day Care Educator since 2002. My background is in the Children and Family Services sector, working for various organisations prior to joining Family Day Care. I am a passionate Educator, always striving to ensure the best outcomes and opportunities for the children and families in my care.

My service: Jo Jo’s Family Day Care aims to provide a loving, nurturing environment for the children and families in the Echuca/ Moama area. The children and families have always been a part of our home environment. My program encourages sustainable practices, use of recyclable materials and encouraging the children to respect and appreciate the outdoor environment.  The children enjoy collecting eggs from the chook and have supervised access to a dog and cat. I work closely with the families and children in my care to support school readiness and transition to preschool, providing pick up and drop offs to Moama Grammar School and Preschool.

My facility: The indoor area is bright and spacious and I have many resources to promote children’s learning. Outdoors there is a large protected undercover area where the children enjoy messy play, water play and a range of dramatic play options.  We have a cubby and a sand pit. We regularly take a walk to the local parks. The children are provided with the opportunity to access a range of community services such as the local aged care facility in Echuca.  These opportunities enhance the children’s understanding of the value of community services.

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7.45am to 5.30pm (flexible).

Judy

Qualifications: Certificate 3 in childcare

Career background:  I am married and have three children, five grandchildren and have worked as a Family Day Care educator since 2000

My service: I provide an environment that supports all children and families in all aspects. I provide learning, both indoors and outdoors, and tailor my daily programs based on the children’s interests. I also support older siblings with preschool / primary school drop-offs to help out busy families.

My facility: My facility has a large outdoor undercover play space and a grassed play space for children to run, jump, tumble, and climb. My indoor space is small and comfortable with designated areas where children can play independently. I have two sleep areas set up for children attending my service.

Hours: Monday – Friday 7am – 5.30pm.

Kelly

Qualifications: Diploma in Community Services Children’s Services.

About me: Before starting in Family Day Care, I worked in a committee-run Long Day Care Centre. I worked for four years in the 0-3 room before moving into the 3-5 room for a further 2.5 years. I then took on the director’s roll for 1.5 years before leaving the centre to look after my young family.

My service: I believe that children learn best by playing and try to encourage their individualism in a safe and stimulating environment. I find having a ratio of one adult to four children allows me to interact with each individual child and teach them to express their feelings and ideas in an age appropriate manner. I work closely with parents to ensure the transition into care is as smooth as possible for all involved. I encourage open communication with parents so that each child is receiving the best care they can.

My facility: I purchased a little house that I’ve done up for the purpose of family day care. There is a large air conditioned play space with separate sleep room. Children are able to roam freely around the room enjoying all experiences on offer. The outside area is large and open with a huge cubby and fort built off the ground. I like to take the children to the park daily where we meet up with another family day care educator and children. The children are encouraged to explore nature and take risks and have an ‘I can’ attitude. Every day I fill out communication books with what the child has done for the day and this often include photos. Parents are encouraged to write in these books so children’s learning and interests can be extended.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8.30am to 5pm

Kelly

Qualifications: Certificate III in Children’s Services, First Aid, Emergency Asthma Management, First Aid Management of Anaphylaxis

About me: I have worked as an early childhood educator for nearly 15 years and am extremely passionate about my work. I am married and a mother of two boys. I have lived in Echuca most of my life and have strong ties to the community.

My service: Children are offered a wide range of learning experiences both indoors and outdoors.  I enjoy working together with families to provide quality care. I structure my program to ensure the needs of each child are met while respecting culture and embracing diversity.

My facility: Children can play with a range of toys both indoors and outdoors. We regularly go for walks to the park and visit other educators for playgroup.

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8am – 5pm (can be flexible when required)

Kristi

Qualifications: Diploma in Children’s Services; Certificate III in Children’s Services; Certificate IV in Business; Working with Children Check; Police Check; First Aid and CPR including Anaphylaxis and Asthma Management.

My service: My aim is to provide a nurturing family environment with age appropriate activities ensuring every child in my care has the best possible experiences each day as part of the Early Years Learning Framework. We go on regular approved outings, some of these include the Library, Twisted Science, Banyule State Forest and homes of other FDC Educators, as well as Intereach and parent approved pre-organized excursions like a train ride to the Bendigo Discovery Centre, Melbourne Zoo and Melbourne Aquarium. The Kyabram Fauna Park is also an excursion we love to do. Even though we have a wide range of excursions to enjoy I plan these making sure children have opportunities to enjoy our own play environment here at Kristi’s Family Day Care.

My facility: Both our indoor and outdoor environments are set up to invite children to make their own choices, encouraging spontaneity and imagination as they engage with friends and myself throughout their play. Some of our outdoor play spaces include a shallow rocky river, teepee, water wall, veggie garden, noise board made from pots and pans, outdoor stage, mud kitchen, fort made from pallets and more.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 6.30am to 6pm (minimum hours 6/day)

Leanne

Qualifications: Certificate III in Children’s Services and First Aid.

About me: I have worked in the Early Childhood industry for many years, including Pre-School, Long Day Care and casual Child Care. With this passion still existing, I joined Family Day Care five years ago. I enjoy interacting with children and their families, and I love watching children grow and develop their own sense of identity.

My service: I welcome everyone to visit my service, join our play and see what we are about. I pride myself in providing a safe and caring environment, valuing knowledge, ideas and interests. We go on regular outings in the community and meet with other educators to provide larger group interactions. I believe children learn through play. Routine is also another important part of my service giving children opportunities to meet their needs of rest, physical activity and mealtimes, and be able to participate in small group times where we read, sing, dance and play games.

My Facility: My service is located on the outskirts of Wagga, where we have five acres to play, explore, garden and engage in physical activity. There is both natural and built equipment throughout our indoor and outdoor play spaces, accommodating social interactions as well as quiet times. Separate sleep areas are available to meet individual needs.

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 7.30am – 5.30pm (or on a needs basis)

Leonie

Qualifications: Diploma of Children’s Services; all relevant certificates are up to date.

Career background: I have been a registered Family Day Care educator since 1993 with a number of services.

My service: I provide each child with a flexible but stable routine full of fun activities which includes free play, singing, dancing, creative play, lots of outdoor and gross motor play, plus inside activities including art and craft, dress-ups, story and reading time. Most importantly we have lots of fun, laughs, love and sharing between everyone who visits my home. I believe in providing a program to suit each child’s individual needs, likes, dislikes, wants and needs. I place importance on ensuring open communication with families and also believe it is important to provide a home environment where children feel safe, secure and supported.

My facilities: I offer a well-kept and tidy environment that has a neat playroom with all resources set out to be at children’s reaching level. There is also an undercover outdoor play area, and I offer bikes, ride-along cars, plus a grassed area for running and ball games. There is room for children to explore and be themselves.

Hours: Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm. I am flexible to meet the family’s needs.

Linda

Qualifications: Registered and licensed Family Day Care Educator since 2009; Certificate III Children’s Services; Updated knowledge of FDC Policies, Procedures and Regulations; Senior First Aid, Asthma and Anaphylaxis Management; Early Years Learning Framework and National Standards Training.

About me: My husband Michael and I moved to Finley in 2000. We have four children – Sarah (1996), Grace (2001), Jacob (2002) and Cate (2005).

My service: I believe all children deserve quality childcare in a safe and caring family environment. My home will always be warm and welcoming, encouraging each child to feel part of it. I believe children learn through a ‘play based’ environment, catering for individual strengths, cultures, ages and stages of development. I offer group and more individual experiences to your child, in which they can learn, develop their own skills, risk assess and socialise, all with imagination and fun, feeling belonging here at all times.

My facility: I offer a safe, secure and happy home environment. We have a smoke and pet free home with plenty of space for children to have fun, learn and play. Ours is an imaginative and fun environment with a focus on educational and developmental activities where empathy and kindness shine through. It is a ‘homey environment with plenty of room to explore, play and learn no matter what the weather, inside and outside.

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 6am to 6pm

Lisa

Qualifications: Certificate III in Children’s Services, first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma training and regular ongoing training

About me: I started working in early childhood education and care service in 2009. I began my work with 5 years working in the crèche environment providing care mainly for younger babies I have also worked in the preschool environment both as an aide, providing assistance for children who have had a disability, and a preschool assistant. I registered as a Family Day Care educator on 2013. I am also a mum to 2 daughters.

Philosophy: I believe that children grow and develop in an environment that is happy and safe and where children feel secure and supported by an educator that takes the time to get to know children and their extended families.  I believe that children’s wellbeing is most important and fostering positive self-esteem, resilience and independence will assist children in their journey.

My service: I like to provide an environment that helps children become confident and enjoy learning. I provide play based opportunities, role modelling and consistency to assist children in their learning.
I like to work with children to provide opportunities that are age and stage appropriate and developed in partnership with families. I do provide an environment that is rich in literacy and numeracy, providing exposure to children from a young age to letters, words, sounds and numbers. We also spend time in the outdoors tending to the vegetable garden, riding bikes and push cars and playing with balls.

My facility:  I have a purpose built Family Day Care room off my house meaning that experiences can be left up for children to return to projects days after day. Having a purpose built room also assists with ensuing the safety of children is maintained at the highest level.
For children requiring sleep, I offer a separate sleep room in my home which is just off from the Family Day Care room ensuing that children can have the best possible sleep without disruptions and those children that do not require sleep can continue to play and learn.
I provide a large range of toys, resources and equipment to enable quality learning experiences to be offered to all children from babies to school age.

Hours: Mon to Thurs (can be flexible) 8am – 5:30pm

Lisa

Qualification: Diploma of Children’s Services

About me: I have been a registered educator with Family Day Care since 2014. My previous work experience was in Long Day Care. I am married with three children who have all grown up in Family Day Care.

My service: My service provides children with opportunities that support and encourage emotional, social, cognitive, and physical growth and development. My program creates a nurturing environment offering developmental growth through individual and group experiences. My program is play-based learning as well as supporting self help skills. I believe building a strong, open and honest relationship with families is key to providing the best quality of care.

My facility: The main play room inside is catered to the children in my care with age appropriate toys and furniture. We use the whole house throughout the day. The outside provides a beautiful grass area for play as well as paths that the children enjoy ridding bikes and scooters on. The backyard also has a large wrap-around deck which comes in handy on rainy days. We go out into the community weekly on outings to parks, schools and one of the children’s favourite, to the local shop to buy supplies for our weekly cooking activity.

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8am – 5pm

Lynda

Qualifications:  Certificate III in Children’s Services; Senior First Aid; Asthma and Anaphylaxis First Aid; Statement of Attainment Child Protection.

My service: I like to provide a safe and nurturing environment which I have kept developing since I started working in Early Childhood Education in 2001. I continue to improve my service by attending new learning experiences and trainings made available to me. This helps me to encourage our children to develop their own individual skills and knowledge.
The environment and play space I provide leads to children learning through play. I focus where I can on nature play, walking to the local island sanctuary and parks, gardening, recycling or “up” cycling reusing where we can, plus attending the local library and playgroups to encourage a sense of community.

My facilities: Our indoor environment includes a small kitchenette allowing for warm lunches and snacks in the colder weather. There are free choice toy shelves and a small library of books to share, as well as an art and craft cupboard. I have two separate sleep rooms. Our outdoor area is divided into small adventure worlds – a farm, dinosaurs, fairy garden, construction sandpit and a vegetable garden to grow our own vegetables.

Hours: Tuesday-Friday 8am to 5pm. Holiday care available.

Marita

Qualification: Associate Diploma in Child Care Studies

About me: Certificate in Child Care Studies 1986, Certificate III in Children’s Services 2011, Safe Food Handling Essentials, 10 years experience working in disabilities and 20 years experience working with Family Day Care.

My facility: For children to develop a strong sense of belonging, wellbeing, and provide an environment surrounded with opportunity to make choices in a fun way, while in a small group setting.  For children to be successful, competent and capable learners where values and rights are respected. Provide experiences to assist growth, success and confidence in a positive environment. Create an environment that develops a foundation of life long learning, behaviour and good health.

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8am – 4.30pm

Mary

Qualifications: Diploma of Teaching (Primary); Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Career background: I am the mother of three grown-up daughters. I trained in Primary School Education, and prior to Family Day Care, I spent six years as a Reading Recovery Teacher in a local Primary School.  I have been a Family Day Care educator since 2015.

My service:  I provide a welcoming and calm environment in my home. My program is flexible and is about the individual.  I include a balance of indoor and outdoor play and the children take part in a daily routine that provides for free play, group time, sharing stories, active and rest times, exploring and creating. I believe children learn through play.  I provide children with an environment where they can feel safe and build trusting relationships with both children and educator. To maximise children’s learning I will follow their lead and provide a program that builds on their strengths and interests. I value, acknowledge and respect each child’s culture and background.  When educators partner with families in educating children we provide greater support in their development.  I believe all children have the right to be treated equally.

My facilities: I am located in a rural setting six minutes from Swan Hill. I have a large backyard with an undercover area which ensures plenty of shelter for outdoor play.  Children regularly play in the sand pit, ride scooters and trikes, run about and enjoy ball games.  I also have a variety of indoor play experiences with furniture suited to the age of the children.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am to 6pm.

Mary

Qualifications: Certificate III in Children’s Services; First Aid Certificate; CPR; Management of Anaphylaxis, Emergency Asthma Management. Additional courses include Child Protection and Mandatory Reporting Training; Training in Policies, Protocols and Regulations; Munch & Move in Early Childhood; OH&S.

About me: I have been providing Family Day Care in Deniliquin since 2009. I am married to Mark and we have two adult boys. My interests are gardening, cooking, craft, photography, travel and cars.

My service: I provide a welcoming, warm, clean and safe environment that promotes each child’s learning and development. The daily routines for all children in my care include opportunities to develop and build their skills in a range of areas including language, social, emotional, physical, creative and cognitive development. I provide families with a journal at the end of each year, which includes photos, artworks and observations. The National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework guide my practice and the outcomes for the children.

My facility: The children are provided with a variety of fun and engaging experiences including arts and crafts, story time and outdoor play. I have a spacious area for outdoor play that is surrounded by well-maintained garden beds where the children have the opportunity to explore the natural environment. I have a large playroom where the children can feel comfortable and have access to toys and equipment independently. The environment is well stocked with books, music, toys and games for children of all ages. Cooperative play is encouraged to foster a happy learning environment.

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Maryann

Qualifications: Certificate III in Children’s Services.

Career background: I have been involved in the Early Childhood sector since 1999 and I have worked in both Long Day Care and Family Day Care.

My service:  I provide all children in my care with a variety of experiences that are age and stage appropriate while encouraging creativity, exploration, investigation, imagination and interpersonal skills. All experiences offered are based on children’s interests and my knowledge of the children’s likes and preferences. I offer a routine throughout the day to assist children in transitions and building a sense of security within the service. We have structured activities, story time, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, indoor and outdoor play.  I offer children the opportunity to learn about the community in which we live and the cultural diversity that exists. I believe children need an environment where they feel safe, secure and supported, and that it is important to embed practices based on research to support children’s learning and development. It is also important to provide an inclusive environment and one in which children are able to explore and feel comfortable. Strong partnerships with families are also a priority, as they know their children best.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am to 5.30pm.

Meridith

Qualifications: Diploma of Children’s Services (Early Childhood Education and Care).

Career background: I have been a registered educator since 1998. I am a married mother of two children and I have been working in the Family Day Care industry for 22 years. Both of my children have grown up and left home, but visit occasionally, so there is now generally just myself and my husband at home.

My service: This is based around a simple philosophy that relates to my personal life, as much as my professional one. I believe everyone has the right to feel safe, secure, respected and valued, both physically and mentally. I believe intrinsically that children are the future and that I, as an adult and carer, am bound to provide for all these needs to ensure they have the best start in their life. I ensure this is achieved by providing a friendly, loving and inclusive environment where all who come to my home are free to grow and learn new skills through a range of enjoyable and fun routines and experiences.

My facility: I run my Day Care from my home in Swan Hill. We have a four-bedroom weatherboard house that I have extended to now include a large play room that is specifically for the children. It has easily accessed shelving so they can choose their own toys, a blackboard/whiteboard for drawing, room to use ride-on toys and a home corner. We also have a fridge for the children’s drinks and food, plus a separate toilet and sink.

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8am to 5.30pm.

Michelle

Qualifications: Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care: Diploma in PC Engineering; Certificate III in Marketing Management; Statement of Attainment HLTAID004 First Aid; Statement of Attainment Child Protection training. Currently studying towards a Diploma in Early Childhood.

About me: I became an Early Childhood Educator because from a very young age I always loved babies and young children, so it seemed like a natural progression for me to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education. I love educating and caring for children, and how their individual personalities make every day unique and special. I have been in the early childhood industry since 2016 starting my early childhood experience in a Long Day Care service, where I gained much experience and knowledge. Prior to this I have worked as a Pharmacy Assistant and in South Africa, I was a franchisee owner of a Kumon Maths and English centre where I had children from the ages of 3 to 15.

My service: My family daycare service is committed to providing a warm, safe, inclusive environment for all the children and children’s families. The children who attend my service are an extension of my family, which consists of my husband Clive, son Luke and daughter Emma who the children all have lots of fun and laughter with. Respectful relationships are an integral part of my service. I believe this is fundamental for effective communication, thus providing quality care and achieving individual learning goals. My aim is to always provide an educational and stimulating environment for all children, providing them a space to use their imagination and learn through their play. Here at Shells, we love to have fun, singing, dancing, playing and going out on the Nature Reserve exploring the wonders of nature right in front of the daycare residence.

Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 8:00-5:30pm, Friday 8:00 – 4:30pm

Pauline

Qualifications: Certificate III in Child Care; First Aid Certificate: Asthma and Anaphylaxis Management; Child Protection training; ongoing professional development.

About me: I have worked as a Family Day Care Educator for many years. I registered as a Family Care Educator in 1998 and have since enjoyed caring for children and working with families in the local community.

My service: Pauline’s Family Day Care home is in central Moama so we have regular walks to the local park where we can explore the environment. The children and I also visit the Play Centre and attend Intergenerational play sessions at Glanville Aged Care facility in Echuca where we spend time with the local residents enjoying activities, music and gardening. My philosophy is to provide a quality Family Day Care service to the children and families in the Echuca/Moama area, working closely with families to ensure the children are happy and well cared for.

My facility: I provide a home like environment both indoors and outdoors. The large outdoor environment provides much opportunity for motor activity and exploratory play.  Indoors also provides opportunity for individual and group play with dress-ups, books, cars, trains and a variety of equipment to support the children’s learning.

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7.30am to 5.30pm.

Rowena

Qualifications: Diploma of Children’s Services (Early Childhood Education & Care); First Aid certificate; Emergency Asthma and Anaphylaxis; Child protection; Sun smart; regular professional development annually to refresh and revise new and ongoing developments in the childcare sector.

About me: I am a fully accredited educator working for Intereach Family Day Care. I have been working in the Early Childhood sector since 2006 with years of experience and wisdom behind me. I am passionate about working with children and watching them thrive within an enriched fun-loving natural environment, creating a holistic approach, developing small minds through play and engaging experiences based on the needs of individual children.  I provide a family inclusive service so children feel safe, secure and supported. I live in Moama with my husband Michael and two sons, Blade and River. I started working in childcare in 2006 with the Shire of Campaspe and have continued to love working with children, supported by staff now within Intereach.

My service: I create a safe, secure and inclusive environment where families feel welcome and involved with their children’s daily practices. Daily routines provide consistent care with excursions and regular outings offering unique experiences where children can engage through play sessions with other educators, inter-generational playgroup at Glanville or planned outings to coincide with our current program. Some experiences include the library, parks, strawberry farm or bush kinders for a change in scenery. Intentional teaching allows the opportunity to check development milestones and areas to work on as well as providing a guide for families, which is especially important when children are transitioning to school or kindergarten. I follow a holistic approach using the Early Years Learning Framework and national standards to foster key learning areas in a positive environment, allowing learning to occur through natural play and meaningful experiences. Each child has their own profile book as a record of their year in care for parents to keep at the end of the year. Artwork and observations as well as reports for development milestones are all examples of recorded documentation.

My facility: Indoors, children have their own room through the day which is set up based upon the children in care for the day and their interests, such as blocks, puzzles, animals, cars and trucks, plus many toys available. Meals are eaten in the kitchen on a table, outside under our spacious pergola or in the right weather conditions on a mat on the grass as a picnic which is loved by all children. Some activities such as cooking will be in the kitchen and nap time is in the main lounge if children are on day beds or the study if children require a cot whilst in care. Individual bedding is supplied for each child and washed regularly for hygiene purposes. A powder room is used by children either toilet trained or in training to work with parents. A seat is provided for smaller children to assist with toileting. Outdoors, my backyard is set out in three separate yards for the children, all offering something different to cater for all abilities and talents. Our children’s enclosed yard with cubby, climbing equipment, bikes, painting and blackboards provides room for imaginative play and creativity to run wild.The middle yard has a large open grassed area for motor skills and movement or simply sitting together enjoying games and picnics. Down the back is the sand pit, mud kitchen and messy play yard where children can invent a new recipe or simply share time with friends.

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 6am to 6pm; Friday, 6am to 4pm. Casual weekends if arranged and agreed upon.

Sally

Qualifications: Diploma of Children’s Services; Diploma of Community Services; First Aid Certificate; Asthma and Anaphylaxis management; Child Protection training; ongoing professional development.

About me: I have worked as a Family Day Care Educator for many years. I registered as a Family Care Educator in 2002 and have since enjoyed caring for children and working with families in the local community. In 2013 I was nominated for Educator of the Year. I was born and raised in Rochester and did all my schooling here.

My service: Sally’s Family Day Care aims to provide a loving, nurturing environment for the children and families in Rochester and surrounding areas. The children and families have always been a part of my home environment and I like the children to feel they are coming to their aunty’s place and not day care.

My facility: The outdoor area is large and inviting where the children enjoy craft, water play, messy play and a range of dramatic play options.  We have a cubby and a sand pit. The children enjoy collecting the eggs from the chooks. Indoors also provides opportunity for individual and group play. Sally’s Family Day Care home is in central Rochester so we are able to enjoy regular neighbourhood walks where we can explore the local environment. We also visit the local library to borrow books.

Hours: Monday – Friday and after school care. Flexible and negotiable.

Sandra

Qualifications: Diploma in Children’s Services; Certificate III in Children’s Services; Working with Children Check; Police Check; First Aid Certificate; Asthma and Anaphylaxis management; Child Protection training; ongoing professional development to keep up to date with changes in legislation and new ideas for children’s learning.

About me: I am married with two adult aged sons who grew up within our Family daycare environment. I am a dedicated educator who has been providing quality care to children and their families in the Echuca/Moama area for 28 years.

My service: I am located in Echuca South and provide an environment that is focused on play-based learning, which is stimulating and encourages independence growth and development, that is respectful and inclusive of all who attends. I believe each and every child has the right to reach their full potential, and this begins in a nurturing environment that provides warmth, safety and opportunities to explore their curiosity through fun-based activities. I strive to work alongside families providing the parents with clear communication, listening to their needs and being flexible in developing a program that is part of the Early Years Learning Framework and based on each child’s individual needs, interests, skills, and abilities.

My facility: Our indoor area provides choices and many resources promoting positive, respectful relationships with others while engaging in activities like cooking, board games, dramatic play, sensory play, music, puzzles, reading, art, craft as well as free play. Our outdoor area consists of a wide range of sensory and exploratory activities; some of these include a mud kitchen, water wall and river, lean too, sandpit, sensory boxes, gardening, ballgames, bikes and a range of equipment for gross motor development. We enjoy approved regular outings to enhance children’s learning such as to the library for Rhyme time & Storytime, local bus rides, bush exploration outings, neighbourhood nature walks, parks and to the homes of other Educators. We also occasionally engage in approved non-regular excursions like the Echuca Fire Station, Glanville Village Aged Care, Echuca Twisted Science, Kyabram Fauna Park and train rides to Bendigo Science Works, Melbourne Zoo and Aquarium.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm (6 hours minimum). Occasional weekend care available.

Sandra

Qualifications: Certificate IV in Family Day Care, Certificate III in Children’s Services, First Aid Certificate, Asthma Management

About me: I have been a registered Family Day Care educator since 1992 and have enjoyed caring for children and working closely with families in the local community. I have 5 grandchildren who live in Canberra and Toowoomba.
I believe children feel secure and happy in a stable environment. It is my desire to support the parents using my service by providing a happy and loving alternate family for their child, giving opportunity for each child to develop their maximum potential through play-based learning. My goal is to work in partnership with parents to bring out the best in each child in my care.

My service: I provide each child with a flexible but stable routine full of fun activities which include free play singing, dancing, arts and crafts activities, dress-ups, and story time.

My facility: I am based in the center of Wagga. Children can play with a range of toys both indoors and outdoors. We regularly go for walks to the park and visit other educators for playgroup.

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8 am – 5.30 pm (can be flexible when required)

Sonja

Qualifications: Certificate III in Child Care; First Aid Certificate; Asthma and Anaphylaxis management; Child Protection training; ongoing professional development.

About me: I have worked as a Family Day Care Educator for many years before joining Intereach in 2011. I have continued to upskill my knowledge with training throughout these years and will continue to do so. Over the years I have developed strong bonds with the children and families in my care and always strive to work in partnership with families, respecting their values and beliefs.

.My service: My programme is supported by the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standards. I aim to provide experiences that encourage and promote areas of learning and development while building children’s self-esteem and confidence.  I strive to create a nurturing home-like environment that is warm, welcoming, flexible and reliable. Great for babies and the older child up to the age of 13years.

Occasionally we organise other outings but these will be discussed with families who are able to choose if they would like their children to attend.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 6am to 6pm (flexible and negotiable).
I am available some weekends and overnight, before 8am and after 6pm by negotiation, and my availability.

Tania

Qualifications: Diploma Children’s Services.

About me: I have been an Early Years Educator for 25 years. I enjoy watching the children grow and learn. I enjoy learning through the eyes of a child.

My service: I work for Intereach Family Day Care. They are supportive and helpful.

My facility: I run my business between 2 lounge rooms, dining room and kitchen. I have an outside area which consists of a large sandpit with a cubby and mud kitchen in it and a large undercover area which is all weather accessible. I have a large grassed area in between both sections.

Hours: I work Sunday 1.30pm – 10.30pm, Monday to Friday 7.45am – 5.30pm. Other times by request.

Tracey

Qualifications: Certificate III in Children’s Services; First Aid Certificate including Asthma and Anaphylaxis; Food Handling Certificate; Regular ongoing professional development.

About me: I’ve been a registered Educator with Intereach in Finley since 1996. I have two teenage children – one has headed off to uni while one lives at home and enjoys having the Family Day Care children in our home.

My service: I enjoy a close partnership with my FDC families to allow each child in my care to reach his/her fullest potential. I encourage the involvement of all families in the development of my program and menus. I take the children on outings to the library, walks and to other Educators’ homes when appropriate so they can meet up with other children and enjoy other experiences. I provide the children with a wide range of craft, construction, manipulative, interactive and age-appropriate experiences to enable them to develop to their maximum potential.

My facility: I have a large outdoor area to allow the children to spend a lot of time outdoors. We grow vegetables and have hens and the children enjoy feeding them and collecting the eggs. I provide all nutritious meals and snacks. I encourage the children to assist in the preparation of the meals and snacks when appropriate.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 6.45am to 5pm (flexible

Vicki

Qualifications: Certificate III in Children’s Services; First Aid and Anaphylaxis; Child Protection and ongoing training through Intereach in all areas of learning and wellbeing as an Educator; life experience as a mother.

About me: I have been a Family Day Care Educator since March 2004, a career I decided on because of my love for children of all ages. I have been blessed to have made lifelong friendships and relationships with many children and families that are and have been in my care.

My service: I believe in a balance of structural and unstructured activities, indoor and outdoor experiences, music and story time, multicultural and imaginary play. I am passionate about promoting play, as I believe this encourages problem solving, social interactions, role play and communication and enables children to develop skills in all learning areas which results in them being happy and confident. My philosophy is summed up with the following quote: ‘To every child …. I dream of a world where you can laugh, dance, sing, learn, live in peace and be happy’ – Malala Yousafzai

My facility: I supply all food in my service and offer a menu of healthy foods, seasonal fruits and vegetables, nutritious cooked meals and breakfast for early arrivals.

Hours: I am flexible and offer care for times and hours required.