Family Day Care Educators Recognised for their Outstanding Work

Published on 18 July 2018

Congratulations to Baw Baw Shire Family Day Care educators Martha Smith and Tracy Lechte for winning regional awards in the 2018 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.

As featured in the Warragul & Drouin Gazette (17 July 2017):

Educators recognised for work with children

Warragul’s Martha Smith and Buln Buln’s Tracy Lechte have cared for more than 150 children each in their role of family day care educators.

Now their work is being recognised with Martha and Tracy both winning regional awards in the 2018 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.

The duo, who are both registered with Baw Baw Family Day Care, were “very happy” with the awards.

For Martha, who started as a family day care educator in 2010, it is her third consecutive regional award.

When asked of her favourite part of the job, Martha said “definitely watching their continual learning and being able to do that in such small groups”.

She is a popular educator, having had up to 30 kids on her books at once.

Tracy, who has worked in the role for 16 years, is accepting her second consecutive regional award.

“I was recently asked how many bottoms I’d changed in 16 years,” laughed Tracy. “In 16 years, a lot. Over 150 bottoms.”

“The first one child I ever had turned 17 this year.”

A highlight for Tracy is “watching them grow and go through their milestones and grow into independent people”.

Martha and Tracy now go in the running to be named as a national finalist in the awards.

Now in its seventh year, Family Day Care Australia’s Excellence in Family Day Care Awards acknowledges the incredible work done by family day care educators each and every day, as well as showcasing the amazing bonds shared between family day care educators and the children they work with.

The awards celebrate the uniqueness and diversity of family day care and how strong relationships and a nurturing home learning environment make family day care the natural choice for quality early childhood education and care.

Family Day Care Australia chief executive officer Andrew Paterson said the awards continue to shine a light on the important role that family day care plays for families all across the country.

“The Excellence in Family Day Care Awards highlight the special contribution that educators like Tracy and Martha make to the lives of the children in their care,” said Mr Paterson.

Click for more information about Baw Baw Shire Family Day Care.