The Best of Family Day Care
The National Winners of the 2025 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards have been announced. See who’s taken home top honours!
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
Family day care offers a real home-away-from-home feel for more than 71,000 children around Australia, and if you’re searching for childcare, then it’s good to know who’s delivering exceptional FDC near you.
The KindiCare Rating definitely helps when you search for family day care using the KindiCare App or Childcare Comparison Website, and an industry accolade also tells you a lot.
Which brings us to the 2025 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards!
These Awards have been running for 14 years, to recognise the achievements of the fantastic people working in the FDC sector.
And after receiving nearly 5,000 nominations, Family Day Care Australia has announced this year’s National Winners.
Family Day Care Australia Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Paterson, says, “Each of our National Winners have demonstrated excellence, dedication and unique qualities that makes them deserving winners of this year’s Awards.”
So, without further ado, here are the 2025 National Winners:
Educator of the Year – Annette Hutt, Far North Family Day Care Scheme, SA
Annette has been working as a family day care educator for 30 years, and her efforts definitely haven’t gone unnoticed.
Annette received lots of nominations saying how lost her community would be without her, and this Award will be treasured almost as much as she is!
Coordinator of the Year – Christina Lee, We Belong Family Day Care, QLD
Christina’s nominations recognised the amazing work she does to support educators whose first language isn’t English.
Christina helps them to overcome language barriers, which builds their confidence, professional growth, and overall wellbeing – and this is so positive for the educators, and the families they support.
Service of the Year – Communities At Work Family Day Care, ACT
Communities At Work Family Day Care also won the National Award in 2015 and 2016, and this third National Award – a decade later – recognises their ongoing efforts to create a safe and happy place for everybody, with collaborative growth, kindness and respect in the mix.
A special mention should also go to the 2025 National Finalists:
Educator Finalists
ACT/NSW – Natasha Rebuck, Collective Family Day Care, NSW
NT/QLD – Christina Jane, Choices Family Day Care, QLD
SA/WA – Annette Hutt, Far North Family Day Care Scheme, SA
TAS/VIC – Angela Mammone, Foundations Family Day Care, VIC
Coordinator Finalists
ACT/NSW – Kristy Elks, Northern Rivers Family Day Care, NSW
NT/QLD – Christina Lee, We Belong Family Day Care, QLD
SA/WA – Hannah Griffiths, Southern Vales Family Day Care Scheme, SA
TAS/VIC – Julie Metselaar, Baw Baw Shire Family Day Care, VIC
Service Finalists
ACT/NSW – Communities@Work Family Day Care, ACT
NT/QLD – We Belong Family Day Care, QLD
SA/WA – Willi Wag Tails Family Day Care, WA
TAS/VIC – Greater Dandenong Family Day Care, VIC
You can then see the 2025 Star Award Winners and Regional Educator Award Winners here.
So, let’s give a huge congrats to all these high-achievers.
And if you’re looking for childcare, these educators, coordinators and services lead the way when it comes to quality education and care in a homely FDC setting.
