When Meera opened her family day care service in Castlemaine, a regional town in central Victoria, she filled a gap that had left many local families driving over 25 minutes to the nearest long day care centre. Within her first month, she was fully booked, with a waitlist forming soon after.

"Most of my families are shift workers or run their own small businesses," says Meera. "They needed care that could flex around irregular hours, not a rigid 9-to-5 model."

For parents like Daniel, a self-employed tradesperson, the impact has been immediate. "Before Meera opened, I was turning down jobs because I couldn't find anyone who could take my daughter early enough. Now I can start work at 6am and know she's somewhere safe and familiar."

Before starting her service, Meera spent eight years as an early childhood educator in long day care centres before deciding to bring that experience into her own home. "I loved centre-based care, but I wanted to build something smaller and more personal, where I really get to know each child and family."

Setting up the service meant converting part of her home into a dedicated learning space, including a shaded outdoor play area and a reading nook built by her partner. "It took a few months of planning and a fair bit of paperwork, but it was worth it to create a space that felt like ours."

Today, Meera cares for eight children across five days a week, with a strong focus on outdoor play, gardening, and everyday life skills. "We grow our own vegetables and the kids help harvest them. It's a small thing, but it teaches patience and where food actually comes from."

Looking ahead, Meera hopes to mentor new educators considering family day care. "If you love working with children and want the flexibility to build something of your own, I'd genuinely recommend it. It's hard work, but it's the most rewarding thing I've done."