National winners announced in 2025 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards

Family Day Care Australia has proudly announced the National Winners in the 2025 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards. The announcement was made at the Pullman, Albert Park in Victoria on Saturday 25 October at the FDCA 2025 National Conference Gala Dinner.

Three category winners were announced (Educator, Coordinator and Service) after nearly 5,000 nominations were placed during the years awards season. The following National Finalists were announced as this year’s National Award Winners:

Educator of the Year – Annette Hutt, Far North Family Day Care Scheme, South Australia

Annette was initially selected as an award winner in the South Australian region of Whyalla and the Eyre Peninsula and went on to be selected as the South Australia/Western Australia National Finalist.

This year Annette celebrated her 30th year as a family day care educator, with nominations about Annette said that her community would be lost without her.

Coordinator of the Year – Christina Lee, We Belong Family Day Care, Queensland

Nominations for Christina, who was chosen as Northern Territory/Queensland National Finalist, outlined the amazing work she does in supporting educators whose first language is not English, and how she helps overcome language barriers for educators, resulting in increasing educator’s confidence, professional growth, and overall wellbeing.

Service of the Year – Communities At Work Family Day Care, Australian Capital Territory

Communities At Work Family Day Care, who were selected as the ACT/New South Wales National Finalist, secured their third National Award after winning the award in 2015 and 2016.

Communities at Work’s philosophy reflects pillars such as growing together, kindness and respect, caring for our world, everybody belongs, and a safe and happy place for everybody.

Family Day Care Australia Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Paterson, spoke to the incredible achievements of the National Award Winners.

“Each of our National Winners have demonstrated excellence, dedication and unique qualities that makes them deserving winners of this year’s Awards.”

In its fourteenth year, the Awards showcase the unique benefits of family day care, which is the natural choice of early childhood education and care for many families across Australia.

The national awards program is the only one of its kind dedicated to family day care, recognising family day care educators who combine small business ownership with their dedication to supporting children’s learning and development in a natural home-based environment. Each year, the 

Excellence in Family Day Care Awards shine a spotlight on the vital role family day care plays in the lives of more than 71,000 children across the country.

“The Awards continue to play a key role in professionally recognising the achievements of those working in the family day care sector on a national level and provide an opportunity to promote the unique benefits of family day care to Australian families,” said Mr Paterson.

View the full list of Awards Winners here.