As Anglicare NSW South, NSW West and ACT marks the 45th year of providing Family Day Care services in the Goulburn region, the organisation is calling on more people to consider becoming educators.
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Commencing in 1977, Anglicare's Family Day Care services have given local families a unique early childhood service option, with the model allowing children to be educated and cared for up to the age of 12.
For long-term educator, Niki, her greatest motivation is the relationships developed with families over the years.
"The personal connections you have with the children and their families is the best part about being an educator. There is the saying that it takes a village to raise a child, and Family Day Care really helps create and form that village," Niki said.
"I became a Family Day Care educator in 1994. I had just turned 22 and became the youngest educator Anglicare had ever had. I thought Family Day Care was the perfect job for when I planned to have children, so I could still work and be at home with my children."
Niki recently celebrated a significant milestone as a young person, Moneeque, who has been in her care for over a decade prepared to leave the service.
"Caring for Moneeque over the past years has been very rewarding. It's been a privilege to watch her grow, share her highlights and support her," she said.
"I have a wonderful relationship with Moneeque's parents and it almost became a co-parenting relationship, where we could share her milestones and highlights together, and work together to find solutions to support her as and when needed."
Niki describes the job as hard work but rewarding, and an ideal self-employment opportunity that can fit in with people's lifestyles while being supported by Anglicare.
Katie Beelen-Smith is Director of Goulburn Family Day Care and says the need for local educators is growing.
"We receive enquiries about Family Day Care vacancies on an almost daily basis," said Katie, who herself attended Goulburn Family Day Care as a child.
"We would love to have the capacity to fulfil this need within our local community, and we are continually looking to recruit educators to join us," she explained.
"Becoming a Family Day Care educator is an excellent career choice, especially if you have a background in education, or even have children at home yourself, and are looking to create additional income.
"The rewards are absolutely there, along with the flexibility to set your own fees, hours and days of work."
Anglicare offers comprehensive support, home visits, mentorship and professional development, including covering the costs of first aid, CPR, and other training for people interested in becoming Family Day Care educators.
For more information about Anglicare's Family Day Care Services, or becoming an educator, contact Anglicare Goulburn on 02 4823 4000.
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