INTEREACH FAMILY DAY CARE - MAY 2021
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MAY 2021
INTEREACH FAMILY DAY CARE
CATHERINE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF CARING
Catherine Hay, of Finley, has notched up another milestone during a long and satisfying career in childcare.
Catherine is celebrating 20 years of providing Family Day Care through Intereach (previously known as Deniliquin
and District Family Day Care).
Catherine describes her time with Intereach Family Day Care as being “such a privilege”, with the most special part of
her work being “the many beautiful children I have cared for over the years and all the fun we have had together”.
Catherine says there have been so many wonderful learning opportunities.
“You become part of each child’s family as you work in partnership with them. The children often tell me, ‘I love you
Cathy’, and I feel the same way about them. It is very humbling when, years later after children have moved away,
they come back to visit you and tell you some of their favourite memories.
“You develop such a bond with your families that you can become lifelong friends.”
She recalled the time when a child arrived back from an overseas family holiday and presented her with a gift she
had bought because Catherine was “one of her special people”.
“I have received many beautiful hand-made cards and gifts from my little friends. I even had a child offering to buy
me a new dress (well, her Mum would buy the dress!) so I could attend a family wedding and watch the child walk
down the aisle as a flower girl.”
Intereach Family Day Care nominated supervisor Bec Fitzpatrick says Catherine has always provided a caring and
nurturing approach not only to the children in her care but their extended family.
“Catherine is such a committed educator, always looking for ways to improve
the quality of care she provides and ensuring children’s learning, development
and wellbeing is at the forefront of her decision making.
“It is such a privilege to work with an educator that gives so much to her role;
20 years is an amazing milestone,” Bec said.
Catherine says there have been many changes to Family Day Care over the
last 20 years through regulation, electronic timesheets, the Early Years
Learning Framework and child development.
“Intereach Family Day Care has been a great place to work through these
changing times, and I have valued their constant support, professionalism and
encouragement over the years,” she said.
Catherine’s quality of care has been recognised during her career, and in 2015
she was the regional winner in the national Family Day Care awards. At the
time she said she was “very honoured”, adding “I have loved each child in my
care and see each child as being so much fun, eager to learn with so much to
offer. But most importantly, I view each child as being unique and very special.”
In Family Day Care circles, Catherine Hay is, herself, “very special”.
CATHERINE NATIONAL FDC REGULAR HEALTH EXCELLENCE IN
TAKE A
WEEK
PEEK! CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OUTINGS - 4 FDC AWARDS
SERVICE - 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
P: 1300 488 226
www.intereach.com.au
NATIONAL FAMILY DAY
CARE WEEK
National Family Day Care Week was celebrated on May
3-9, 2021.
National Family Day Care Week recognises and
promotes the important role Family Day Care educators
and services play in the development and wellbeing of
more than 107,000 children across Australia.
The annual celebration highlights the many unique
benefits of Family Day Care
Intereach Family Day Care recognised this important
week with a variety of events held across its footprint.
Wagga Wagga based educators and families enjoyed
morning tea and lunch in the Botanical Gardens along
with art, parachute games and story telling. Wagga
educator Faye Everett also welcomed other educators
into her service while coordinators Sheree and Nettie
facilitated a home-based play session.
Educators in our Swan Hill area were treated to a play
session facilitated at the Baptist Church hall by
coordinator, Leanne. A healthy morning tea was shared
along with the opportunities for children to participate in
a variety of learning experiences including building,
painting, outdoor play and being able to have their face
painted. Scavenger Hunts were also on the agenda
during home visits and neighbourhood walks where
children explored their surroundings to find caterpillars,
feathers and bumpy things.
In Deniliquin, coordinator, Marie, facilitated small
Fundamental Movement SkillsNATIONAL NATIONAL
morning FDC
FDC along
sessions
with making a healthy morning tea.WEEK
These WEEK
sessions
promote Intereach's involvement in the- 2Munch
- 2 and Move
Program
REGULAR OUTINGS & "I love
EXCURSIONS playgroup
because we run,
Family Day Care services provide a unique opportunity for children to
participate in outings within their local community.
Excursions and outings offer children diverse learning opportunities,
participation in familiar or unfamiliar family life activities, and community
engagement.
play and have
When educators plan excursions or outings, consideration is given to how
children's learning and development will be supported, enhanced or fun."
scaffolded.
Excursions or outings can be referred to as:
Regular outing - The day to day activities forming a part of the service HARLOW,
such as school and pre-school collections, visits to the library or
AGE 2.7 YEARS
playgroups.
Non–regular outings – such as special trips to a farm, police station or
concert.
Incursion – where an artist, show or group comes to the educator’s home.
Three educators in the Swan Hill area provide regular outings to their group of
children every Wednesday, visiting the Baptist Church Community Playgroup.
This regular outing allows for children to play and learn in larger groups and
build relationships with community members. Marge and Lorna facilitate the
playgroup and the children enjoy their grandmotherly relationship.
Educators provide the children’s morning tea, and sitting together to eat
allows for children to learn social skills and make new connections. Children
are also offered the opportunity to play in both indoor and outdoor spaces
that offer different challenges and options for play that are not necessarily
available within their familiar care environment. Children and educators enjoy
the connection throughout the week.
While outings and excursions offer wonderful and diverse learning
opportunities for children, ensuring that they are protected from harm and
from hazards likely to cause injury is particularly important. Due to the
potential risks, the National Law requires risk assessments to be completed.
Risk assessments assess and manage any potential dangers and hazards prior
to permission being sought.
To find out more, access Intereach's Excursion Procedure
HEALTH
As we head into the winter months, common colds and
childhood illness can become more present in Early
Childhood Services, including Family Day Care.
Recently both the NSW & Victorian Health Departments
have notified services of:
A large increase in hand, foot and mouth disease
(HFMD), gastroenteritis, and enterovirus meningitis
presentations.
To help prevent the spread of these childhood illnesses
and others:
Parents should keep unwell children at home until they
feel well enough to participate in normal activities.
Gastro: A waiting period of 48 hours from the last
symptom is required.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: Children are not able
to return to care until all blisters have dried.
It is also important that families reinforce hygiene
measures, such as regular handwashing with soap and
water, cough etiquette and nose blowing.
If your child is unwell and will not be attending care Children in Family
please notify your educator as soon as possible. In
Day Care use
addition, if your child is diagnosed with a childhood illness
please notify your educator so that they can undertake
routine times as a
the required processes. learning
opportunity.
All children and families should be ensuring they are Good handwashing
continuing to undertake handwashing (or sanitising if
running water and liquid soap is not available) on the
promotes good
arrival to their educator's service. health.
For more information, please visit the illness and ADELE,
infectious disease procedure.
AGE 3.7 YEARS
EXCELLENCE IN FAMILY DAY CARE AWARDS Nominations for the 2021 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards are now open! Now in its tenth year, the Excellence in Family Day Care Awards are the only program of their kind celebrating the Family Day Care sector across Australia. It’s our chance to showcase the stories and achievements of educators, coordinators and services, and promote FDC as the natural choice in early childhood education and care for more Australian families. We're inviting everyone to join in the celebrations by placing nominations for deserving educators, coordinators and services. Placing a nomination is your opportunity to say thank you and acknowledge the fantastic work done by educators, coordinators and services. To nominate an educator: https://www.familydaycare.com.au/educator-awards/nominate-an-educator To nominate a coordinator: https://www.familydaycare.com.au/coordinator-awards/nominate-a-coordinator To nominate a service: https://www.familydaycare.com.au/service-awards/nominate-a-service
FAMILY SURVEY
Family survey now OPEN!
Families are the primary influence in their children's lives; they have strong beliefs and values regarding the
education and care of their children and therefore when services and families collaborate, better outcomes
are achieved.
Intereach Family Day Care would like to invite families to provide information, feedback and suggestions via
the completion of an online survey. Completing this survey will assist Intereach in ensuring you and your
children are accessing the highest care possible. Feedback will be used to influence our programs, policies,
procedures and ongoing continuous improvement.
The survey can be completed via: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IntereachFDCFamilyFeedbackSurvey
MUNCH & MOVE
Children should have a good relationship with food and enjoy eating nutritious meals.
Here are some tips to assist you to talk positively about eating healthy food.
Like us on Facebook: Intereach Family Day Care
www.facebook.com/intereachfamilydaycare
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