Hoppers Crossing’s Debbie MacLeod loves being surrounded by the smiling faces of the children she cares for every day.
For more than 28 years, Ms MacLeod has been a family day care educator. She currently works with Wyndham Early Learning Family Day Care.
Her dedication to providing a caring and nurturing environment for the children she looks after has resulted in Ms MacLeod being named as one of four national finalists in the Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.
If she is successful, Ms MacLeod will be named National Family Day Care Educator of the Year.
Family Day Care Australia, which runs the awards, received more than 2800 nominations from parents this year, before deciding on four finalists.
Ms MacLeod was previously named the Victoria/Tasmania Educator of the Year.
She said that educating young children had always been one of her passions.
“What I enjoy about working in family day care the most is seeing the smiles on children’s faces when they achieve a task that was not too long ago beyond their grasp. The fulfillment of achieving social skills or just the sheer enjoyment they have playing and learning in your care is so rewarding,” she said.
“I also enjoy the bond that we build. I had children in my care whose friendships stayed well after care has finished where I have become an extended family member.”
The award will be announced at a dinner in Sydney on October 28.
Laura Michell
