Selected from hundreds of family day care educators in the area, Stacey Raveneau (pictured right), who has been a family day care educator for nine years, is now in the running for the national title to be announced in July.
Stacey is one of 14,000 family day care educators providing quality early childhood education and care to over 112,000 children across Australia. Family day care is a regulated early childhood service provided by qualified educators in a small group, familiar, home based environment.
“It’s so rewarding to watch them grow from babies until they go off to school,” says Stacey of her role as a family day care educator.
“I really do become attached to all of the children that come through.”
This week Family Day Care Australia celebrates the important role its educators play in the lives of families and communities across Australia by announcing regional winners in its Educator of the Year Awards.
Family Day Care Australia Chief Executive Officer Carla Northam says she is overwhelmed by the heartfelt stories from parents across the country about the incredible service provided by family day care educators like Stacey.
“Each of the 2500 educators nominated holds a special place in the hearts of the families who nominated them,” Mrs Northam says.
“There is no greater responsibility than to be entrusted with the care and education of a young child, every nomination reflected the importance to parents of the safe, nurturing and educational environment that is family day care.
“To be named the regional winner is recognition of Stacey’s dedication to providing quality early childhood education, but also to the wonderful and unique relationship between educators like Stacey and the children in their care.”
Regional winners like Stacey will now compete for state honours and the chance to attend the FDCA International Conference in Brisbane this month where the National Family Day Care Australia Educator of the Year National Award Winner will be announced.
As well as the honour of being named best in the business, winners will share in more than $20,000 worth of prizes including flights, accommodation and an interactive educational system from Eduss Learning worth $5000.