The work Family Day Care educators do is being celebrated in Junee later this month. The South West Regional Family Day Care has been in operation for 20 years and currently has 27 home based educators providing education and care to families across the region.
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Over the last 20 years more than 3500 children and 2500 families use or have used the service which provides them with day care options.
This number is spread across more than just Junee with the South West Regional Family Day Care also servicing Tumut, Ganmain, Coolamon, Wagga, Cootamundra and recently Temora.
Educators in each town enable many of the parents who use the service to remain employed with Family Day Care the only option in regional areas.
“They wouldn’t be able to be in the workforce without them,” nominated supervisor at South West Regional Family Day Care Amanda Birkett said.
Miss Birkett has worked as an educator since 2003 and as the nominated supervisor overseeing the daily operations of the service for the last five years.
The biggest change Miss Birkett has seen since working in the service is the service being recognised as professional service not just a parent looking after children at home.
“All educators have a certificate three in child services,” she said.
“They help and assist with the child's development and put together experiences that are challenging.”
With the low ratios family day care is privileged to the educators get to know the children they look after.
“The bond they have with the children and families is really special,” Miss Birkett said.
The service has remained sustainable and successful thanks to the support of the Junee Shire Council which has supported South West Regional Family Day Care since they began operating in 1995.
“We’re lucky to have them to to support the service,” Miss Birkett said.
Past and present educators and staff are invited to celebrate the milestone on October 24 at the Junee Ex-Servicemen’s Club. To RSVP to the event phone the South West Regional Family Day Care office on (02) 69 241 017.