Northern Rivers Family Day Care speaks to the value of strong support networks

Freya Lucas

Aug 21, 2023

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For members of the Northern Rivers Family Day Care (FDC) scheme, under the umbrella of Northern Rivers Children’s Services, having a strong support network means that opportunities to connect and learn are endless.

It has been almost 18 months since the dual factors of the pandemic and devastating floods impacted NSW’s Northern Rivers region and the area is still on a journey of recovery and rebuilding.

Northern Rivers Children’s Services understands the vital importance of supporting its educators, both during these challenging times and outside of them, and of having strong networks they can lean on for practical, emotional and professional support during difficult times and from day to day, too.

Ensuring educators and staff are well supported has long been a priority for the provider, which operates as Northern Rivers Children’s Services. Trainee educators are introduced to the provider’s supportive and collaborative ways of working from day one, when they are paired with a mentor and spend the day shadowing the educator at their service.

This initial training allows new educators to experience an average day in an FDC setting and seek advice from their mentor before they start delivering care in their own homes. The mentors stay in contact with new educators and provide ongoing support as needed.

As Cathie Pickford, Service Director of Northern Rivers Family Day Care explained, FDC educators are running their own small business, and can feel isolated at times.

“Educators, generally, don’t have anyone else at their service as an immediate back up if things go wrong.”

“Other FDC educators understand what it’s like to be a family day care educator. They can relate to the incidents and issues that arise in the day to day running of their service. When they connect with each other, they exchange ideas, resources, strategies and support each other.”

Northern Rivers Children’s Services initiates a number of informal networking activities such as excursions and playgroups, while a permanent playgroup office helps to coordinate outings and activities.

The FDC coordination unit helps educators by conducting risk assessments, and also with facilitating access to the Services’ bus to go on further adventures to the library, koala hospital and local festivals.

“Some of our educators also host get-togethers on a Saturday to share and make resources, which is also a wonderful way to connect,” shared CEO Jane Isenhood. Formal professional development is also on offer through online and in person workshops, which allow educators to reflect and share ideas with one another.

Service leaders and coordinators call to check in with educators, work with them online, or meet up and provide in person feedback and support to keep connections strong.

“Our scheme will send a coordinator out to our FDC educator’s service to assist with incidents if needed,” Ms Pickford shared. “Many coordinators have also been FDC educators before and have a great understanding and empathy for the unique situations FDC educators face.”

The networking opportunities not only support educators, but children too, by opening up endless opportunities for learning and exploration. When they meet up with their peers children have a greater sense of belonging and community, and are exposed to new ideas, different approaches, environments and experiences.

Many of the educators and staff who work for the FDC provider, as well as the children and families they provide care for, experience ongoing mental health impacts from the floods in early 2022. Some were displaced from their homes and have since been able to starting rebuilding. Others have not yet been able to return home.

Despite losing their Lismore office in the floods, coordinators from Northern Rivers FDC continued visiting their allocated educators on a fortnightly basis in the aftermath of the floods to assist in any way they could. They continue to support educators as recovery efforts continue.

The wellbeing of their educators, children and families is a priority for the service, which has engaged mental health professionals to provide counselling for those experiencing ongoing trauma. Staff have also completed mental health first aid training so they can provide additional support for children, families and the FDC community in the Northern Rivers.

Learn more about Northern Rivers Children’s Services here. For the original coverage of this story, as created by the NSW Government, please see here.

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