CARING for someone else’s child is a challenging responsibility for anyone to take on, but it has always been Mount Gambier educator Susan Hillyer’s passion and dream.
For the past 20 years, the loving educator has guided many children throughout their early years as part of the South East Riverland Family Day Care Scheme and was recently recognised as one of the nation’s finest.
Announced for the second time as a regional winner in the 2017 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards, Ms Hillyer’s dedication to child development is clear.
“I have always wanted to work with children, you get so much joy out of it and develop so many relationships not just with the children but their families as well,” she said.
“It’s a bit like an extended family – my own children have fitted in so well with the ones I care for, they sometimes come home from lunch and if the kids are up they will have a cuddle as well.”
Working with the Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) scheme, Ms Hillyer follows the National Quality Standards guidelines, the Early Years Learning Framework and the policies, procedures and standards of the DECD.
Each month a coordinator visits to check on everything, the premises is approved every 12 months and educators must have at least a certificate III.
Caring for children from the age of two and a half to four, Ms Hillyer said she was able to spend plenty of time with each child working on their strengths and weaknesses.
“They only work with me and are used to me and know me,” she said.
“When mums, dads, grandparents or whoever is caring for the child comes in they are able to discuss any issues they have with the child and we can put that into play.
“They have respect for me and I for them – we all work together.”
Able to understand each child’s interests and areas to develop, she spends time ensuring their needs are met and creativity explored.
“For example, if they do not have very good pen skills you can focus on that a little bit, but not too much or the child gets bored with it,” she said.
“The children also aren’t stuck here all the time – usually on a Tuesday we go over to Boandik Lodge for a playgroup session with the elderly.
“To see that relationship and the children feeling comfortable and being gentle with the elderly is absolutely fantastic.”
Now looking after the children of those she cared for 20 years ago, Ms Hillyer said it was important for her to stay in contact with the families.
“When the children go off to school, I sometimes cry just as much as the parents do because I’ve looked after them for four or five years,” she said.
“But a lot of them I still see down the street and the kids will come running up and give me a hug and the parents tell me what they have done at school.”
Grateful to be recognised, Ms Hillyer said she plans to continue working for family day care for many years to come.
“To be given this award is my biggest achievement – the families themselves have to nominate you, so when they go out of their way to do that it is a really big thing,” she said.
“It is really appreciated and I feel really honoured to have been thought of.”
Ms Hillyer will now go in the running to be named as a national finalist in the awards, which are set to be announced later this month.
As well as the honour of being awarded, national finalists and national winners will share in a host of prizes, including professional development and programming grants.
