Four decades of experience shape award-winning family day care

Ware Bears Family Day Care in Lakelands is celebrating regional recognition after being named the Mandurah and Peel winner in the 2026 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.

Kelvin and Jess Ware bring over 40 years of early childhood combined experience to Ware Bears Family Day Care. Almost three years since setting up their home-based setting in Lakelands, Western Australia, their work has been rewarded at a regional level.

Family Day Care Australia has listed Jessica Ware, registered with YMCA Family Day Care Service, as the Mandurah and Peel Regional Educator Award winner. Ware Bears operate under the Y WA Family Day Care program.

"Being nominated for the second year in a row is a huge achievement, so to actually win the regional award is an incredibly proud and special moment for us," Kelvin and Jess said in a joint statement.

"It reassures us that we are achieving what we set out to do when we first started this journey, creating a fun, welcoming and engaging environment where children feel safe, loved, supported and excited to learn."

The shared experience has enabled the couple to create a home-based approach

The couple set up Ware Bears, wanting to create a familiar environment where children could explore and learn at their own pace. They describe relationships and a sense of belonging as central to their approach.

They said that working together allows them to draw on different skills, personalities and experiences. The couple said children also have opportunities to form relationships with both male and female educators within the setting.

Their account of the service highlights everyday interactions alongside planned experiences. Following children's interests through indoor and outdoor play gives them opportunities to respond to what individual children are exploring, rather than expecting everyone to participate in the same way.

Local surroundings are incorporated into children's learning

Swan Lake and nearby bushland provide opportunities to explore the Lakelands environment. The couple describe experiences ranging from investigating local surroundings to putting on wet-weather gear and splashing in muddy puddles during winter.

Ware Bears offers early learning and care for younger children, before and after school care for children aged six to twelve, and vacation care during school holidays. They extend their support to different stages of family life.

According to the supplied release, some families travel up to 30 minutes to attend. Kelvin and Jess said they were grateful for the trust families had placed in them as the setting became established within the wider Mandurah and Peel community.

Recognition sits alongside ongoing professional support

The Y WA Family Day Care program provides management, guidance and support to educators working in home-based settings. Its support includes visits, mentoring, resources, training and quality oversight.

The national awards received more than 4,200 nominations across educator, coordinator and service categories in 2026. The nomination number reflects participation across the awards program, rather than entries for the Mandurah and Peel region alone.

"Winning this award makes all the hard work, thought and love we pour into our little service feel worthwhile," Kelvin and Jess said. "It is a reminder of how far we have come in almost three years and how much our little service has grown within the Lakelands and wider Peel community."

The full regional winners list is available through Family Day Care Australia.