Children in Margaret Walla’s care are in good hands.
The Woodend family day care educator was a regional winner in this year’s Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.
Ms Walla, who is registered with Bambini Child Care Services, cares for about seven children up to nine-years old.
She says she’s thrilled to have been counted among the best.
“I’m a little bit shocked,” she says.
“It’s just unreal. The kids are just gorgeous… I do it for my family and it’s what I love to do. I know the children are happy here and their families are happy as well.
“I spend my days laughing and playing and out in the rain playing in puddles, so I have an easy life doing this work. Who, at 45, can say that they do this for a living?”
Family Day Care Australia chief executive Andrew Paterson says educators such as Ms Walla hold a special place in the hearts of the families who nominated them.
“There is no greater responsibility than to be entrusted with the care and education of a young child, every nomination reflected the importance to parents of the safe, nurturing and educational environment that is family day care,” Mr Paterson says.
“To be named regional winner is recognition of Margaret’s dedication to providing quality early childhood education, but also to the wonderful and unique relationship between educators like Margaret and the children in their care.”
Ms Walla is now in the running for the Victorian title.
National winners will be announced at a dinner in November. Winning childcare workers will share in more than $20,000 of prizes including educational resources and training packages.
