Good News Stories

When Jordan's family day care service opened in Logan, south of Brisbane, it addressed a shortage that had left several local families on centre waitlists for over a year. Jordan had three enquiries in the first week from word of mouth alone.

When Lila opened her family day care service in Stokers Siding, a village of just 600 people in north-eastern New South Wales, she became the only early childhood education and care option in the town. Prior to this, families were travelling up to 40 minutes each way to access care in neighbouring communities, often facing long waitlists or being unable to secure a place at all.

In the small township of St Marys in north-east Tasmania, home to fewer than 800 people, access to early childhood education and care has long been limited. With only a small number of long day care places available locally, families often travel more than 30 minutes along winding mountain roads to neighbouring towns in search of care. For some, the commute becomes part of daily life.

In the small regional town of Woodburn, NSW, children arriving at Shannon’s family day care begin their day in a calm, familiar environment where they are known, understood and supported to learn at their own pace. For many, it was the first time children have truly settled into care. For their families, it has brought stability after significant disruption.

When Western Australian educator Kate opened her family day care service last year, she fulfilled not just a personal dream, but a crucial need for working families in her small rural community of Gidgegannup. Before she opened, local families were navigating long waitlists, limited care options and very few flexible choices, forcing some to reduce work hours or consider leaving the workforce entirely.

For Moranbah family day care educator Jade, attending the Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) 2025 National Conference in Melbourne was more than a professional development opportunity - it was a unique chance to learn, connect and be inspired alongside other educators from across the country, something that isn’t easily accessible in rural and remote communities.

For Queensland family day care educator Tracey, caring for children isn’t just a job, it’s a lifelong calling shaped by experience, reflection and deep understanding. With more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education, she has dedicated her career to creating safe, emotionally attuned learning environments that build connections and engage young learners.

When Miriam decided to return to early childhood education after raising her children, family day care felt like the perfect fit – a way of creating a nurturing space for young children to learn and grow, while balancing family life and flexibility. After completing her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care in 2004, Miriam worked in centre-based care for several years before taking time away to raise her family. During that time, she homeschooled her children, travelled around Australia in a caravan but found herself at a crossroads.For Miriam, family day care was always part of the plan. She had the intention of becoming a family day care educator but at 19 and living at home with her parents, the idea wasn’t possible.

When Jess reflects on her journey to becoming a family day care educator, she describes it as both a return to her first love and the start of something brand new. Originally, Jess dreamed of becoming a kindergarten (preschool) teacher, but life took her in a different direction. For two decades, she worked as a myotherapist before finding her way back to early childhood education. After having her two children, it was their experience in family day care that reignited her passion. For Jess, the opportunity to provide that same nurturing environment was a natural step.