Across small towns in regional Victoria, underused community spaces are being transformed into early learning environments, expanding access to family day care in communities where care has traditionally been limited. From town halls and libraries to former kindergarten rooms, these venues are now supporting family day care educators to deliver education and care in communities where traditional centre-based models are not always viable.

Let’s Go Family Day Care, owned and operated by approved provider Olivia Moller, operates across both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, supporting communities with diverse and often contrasting needs. In regional areas, this can include demand for flexible and locally accessible care that responds to the circumstances of families living and working across dispersed communities.

The in-venue model did not begin as a formal expansion strategy. Instead, it evolved organically through conversations with educators, councils and local communities. Educators or community members often approach the service with a potential venue in mind, and the model is then explored and developed collaboratively.

“I’m very community-driven, if someone comes to me and says they’ve found a space and they’d love to run family day care there, we look at how we can make it work,” Olivia explains. “Small towns know what they need, they don’t come to you unless they’ve already realised there’s a gap.”

Today, Let’s Go supports multiple in-venue family day care sites across regional Victoria, including locations in The Sisters, Purnim West, Chatsworth and Rupanyup in across south-west Victoria and the Wimmera region.

Each venue reflects the unique character of the area it serves. Some educators operate from local community halls, while others use a former kindergarten room inside a council building. In one town, family day care operates from an existing education and care service on days when the space would otherwise be unused.

In many communities, councils have helped identify suitable buildings or supported minor upgrades to ensure spaces meet safety requirements. Sometimes these adjustments are small, such as installing latches, improving fencing or addressing potential hazards. In other cases, councils have taken a more active role in preparing sites before the service becomes involved. This reduces establishment barriers and enables the service to respond more quickly to local demand.

“I usually find that most of the groundwork has already been done by the time I arrive,” Olivia explains. “The council and the community have already decided they want the service because they can see the need.”

In-venue family day care also offers an alternative pathway for educators who may not wish or may be unable to operate from their own home. Educators involved in the model are often deeply connected to their local communities and value the ability to maintain a clear separation between work and home life.

“They’re very community-minded people,” Olivia says. “But it also works well because they can shut the doors at the end of the day and walk away, rather than having their home as their workplace.”

For families in regional and farming communities, the benefits are equally significant. Venue locations are often situated closer to town centres, making drop-offs easier for parents travelling between farms, workplaces and schools. Accessible parking and central locations can also make venues more practical for families compared to residential settings.

Inside, the environments look similar to any family day care home, with welcoming, play-based spaces designed to support children’s learning and development.

“There’s no real difference once you step inside,” Olivia says. “They’re just great learning spaces for children.”

Beyond early learning, the model also contributes to broader community outcomes. By repurposing underused community buildings, towns can revitalise spaces that might otherwise sit empty. “If it’s a shared or commercial building, councils often see it as an investment,” Olivia says. “It can make these old town halls look attractive again and the community starts using them more.”

Over time, Let’s Go has developed a clear understanding of what enables the model’s success. Strong relationships with councils, community leaders and educators are essential, as is the service’s ability to provide ongoing support and monitoring.

“You’ve got to be able to support the educator properly,” Olivia says. “It’s all very well to set something up in a small town, but you still need to be able to provide guidance, monitoring and support just like you would with any educator.”

Importantly, Let’s Go has incorporated the venues into its existing governance, monitoring and coordination systems, with adjustments made to address the requirements of each location.

Let’s Go’s experience with in-venue family day care highlights the flexibility of the model and its ability to adapt to the circumstances of regional communities. Where the population and workforce base may not support a centre-based service, family day care can provide a smaller, locally responsive option. By working collaboratively with educators, councils and communities, services can support access to early childhood education and care in areas where options may be limited.

For Olivia, the lesson is simple: “If the community can see the need and there’s an educator willing to do it, then it can absolutely work.”

‍