Tara Utting named as FDC Regional Educator winner for Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula

Family day care (FDC) educator Tara Utting has been named as the Regional Educator Winner of the Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula region in the 2021 Family Day Care Australia Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.

Ms Utting, who works under the Eastern Eyre Family Day Care Scheme, was recognised for her enduring commitment to children and families in the steel city.

“We do lots of nature walks, Hummock Hill climbs, anything they would normally do with their family I try to do with them here as well,” Ms Utting shared with local publication Whyalla News.

“I treat all the children as if they’re my own and I like to provide a good quality service, I put a lot of effort into it – printing photos and making scrapbooks for them. I try to make them feel loved while they are away from their parents.”

Many families who enrol in the service remain with Ms Utting until their children go to school, and it’s those family bonds which mean the most to her. Having been working in the sector for a number of years, there are now families with children who are in their early 20’s who still connect up with Ms Utting for a coffee and a chat. 

“I usually make observations about their interests and then plan activities around what they like, that way they look forward to doing those things,” she added. 

Family Day Care Australia Chief Executive Officer Andrew Paterson told the paper it’s these special touches which are enjoyed by families and children around the country when accessing the unique FDC model. 

“The flexible, high quality early education provided by educators like Tara is what makes family day care so unique and is the reason why so many families chose family day care,” he told the paper. 

To learn more about the Awards, see here. For the original coverage of this story, see here.