Early Childhood Educator Elena Shemet from Baulkham Hills Family Day Care, run by Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains (Catholic Care WSBM), has been named Regional Educator Winner for the North West and Hills District in this year’s Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.
2024 Regional Award Winner, Elena Shemet. Image: Supplied.
Hosted by Family Day Care Australia, the annual awards recognised family day care educators in regions across Australia who have demonstrated outstanding work and dedication in early childhood education and care.
Elena described the prestigious national recognition as “amazing”.
“Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart to my families and friends for nominating me! Your support means everything!” Elena posted on Facebook.
“And to all family day care educators across Australia – you are all amazing and making a difference in children’s lives every day!”
Baulkham Hills Family Day Care Coordinator Emma Low said Elena has been a passionate educator at Baulkham Hills Family Day Care for nine years, and has forged strong and positive relationships with staff, children and parents, while consistently demonstrating creativity and enthusiasm in her work.
“We are delighted to celebrate Elena’s win in this year’s Excellence in Family Day Care Awards,” Emma said.
“Elena’s commitment to quality care at Baulkham Hills Family Day care reflects our core values and passion for the work we do to care and inspire children in our centre each day.”
Established for 45 years and with around 50 locations throughout the Hills and surrounding districts, Emma said Baulkham Hills Family Day Care continues to strive to deliver quality care and education for children aged anywhere between 6 weeks to 13 years.
“One of the benefits of our services is that children are nurtured in home-based environments and are always with the same educator,” Emma said.
“Groups are small with a maximum of four children under school age, and three children over school age,” she said.
“Flexibility in care is also an added bonus, as it helps to meet the needs of all families.”
Catholic Care WSBM Executive Director Helen Emmerson said the award was fantastic recognition of the work staff and volunteers do each day across its agency-run child-related services.
“Congratulations to Elena for being recognised with this prestigious award,” Helen said.
“The award reflects the ongoing dedication of so many of our staff across a range of child-related services delivered through Catholic Care WSBM, including our Baulkham Hills Family Day Care as well as our parenting workshops, our creche at Mamre House in Orchard Hills and our HIPPY tutoring program in Emerton.”
Family Day Care Australia congratulated all 71 regional winners on its website, stating their “incredible work and dedication to creating a unique and nurturing early learning environment for children make family day care the natural choice in early childhood education and care for many Australian families.”
The next big announcement on the 2024 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards calendar will be the Star Awards on 8 October, celebrating new and long-serving educators, coordinators and services who have demonstrated exceptional practice and provide wonderful environments for children to thrive.
All Regional Award Winners are in the running to be named one of four national finalists. National finalists will be announced on 15 October, and the winners will be announced on 23 November 2024.
Congratulations to all the winners and best of luck for the next round of awards.
View the full list of all Regional Educator Winners on the Family Day Care Australia website.
