A “professional aunty”: Albany educator recognised after two decades in family day care

Nicki Fairall's second regional award celebrates a career devoted to relationships with children and families, fourteen years after her first win.

Albany educator Nicki Fairall has been announced as the second recipient of the Excellence in Family Day Care Awards, recognising the work behind Lil Monkey's Family Day Care and its relationships with local families.

Known as Nicole Fairall on the Family Day Care Australia's official winners list, Ms Fairall is the 2026 Albany and Great Southern Regional Educator Award winner. Her home-based setting operates under the Y WA Family Day Care program.

"I absolutely love getting to watch milestones happen, those little moments that mean so much, and being a part of that," she said.

"I will not leave the feeling and meaning of family out of my family day care. I'm like a professional aunty. You will feel warm, welcomed and involved."

The change of setting becomes a long-term career

Ms Fairall started providing family day care in 2005, moving from long day care when her first daughter was a toddler. The change allowed her to spend more time with her daughter while still working in early childhood education and care.

The setting evolved around personal connections, flexible care and a sense of belonging in the next two decades. Ms Fairall describes being able to stay in contact with families after children have left as one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

The setting offers both full-day and outside-school-hours care, with flexibility for siblings to attend together. The children who first arrived as babies continue their connection into their school years, allowing relationships with them to develop in different phases of their lives.

Past and present families return to celebrate

Last year Ms Fairall marked twenty years of Lil Monkey's by inviting past and present families to a garden party. Photographs and memories were an opportunity to reflect on the experiences of the children and families who had attended over the past two decades.

"It was a wonderful time to reflect just how much family day care does for people in our community," Ms Fairall said.

"I feel proud of making lasting connections and being so fondly remembered by those who have grown with me and been there through many changes."

For Ms Fairall it was an opportunity to bring those long-term relationships together in one place. It also offered families an opportunity to connect beyond the daily routines of arrival, collection and conversations about their children.

Second award carries significance beyond the certificate

Ms Fairall received regional recognition for the first time in 2012. She said the fact of being able to recognise her work again was especially special, given that the nominations were from families familiar with her work.

"Each and every time I have been nominated, there's a proud feeling because the nomination comes from my families, and that's like a pat on the back for a job well done," she said.

"But to win from the recognised peak body is just enormously, and a bit overwhelming, emotional to be recognised so highly."

Lil Monkey's operates with the support of the Y WA Family Day Care program, including visits, mentoring, resources and training. The arrangement provides professional support alongside the relationships Ms Fairall has been able to build through more than twenty years of working with her Albany children and families.