Family Day Care is such a special occupation for Annette Fisicaro, and another Educator of the Year nomination recognises her talent in this field.
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“What a beautiful surprise,” Annette said on her Instagram page.
“It humbles me to think a parent took the time and effort out of their busy day to nominate me for the award.
“And they think me worthy of such a nomination,” she said.
The nomination is for the Family Day Care Australia Excellence in Family Day Care Awards for 2023.
Apart from a few years absent on maternity leave and family time, Annette has been nominated almost every year since 2017.
Her day care caters for children from 0-5 years of age and she can have four children under five and two school age children.
Currently she works Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and is implementing new activities for her children as well as keeping the popular activities on her program.
“As some children leave and new ones come in I always like to keep the popular activities so each child gets to experience them,” she said.
The newest equipment to compliment her program is a four seater pram, which she called a “game-changer”.
“It allows me to take the children to so many places safely and we can explore lots of new things,” she said.
Annette has also included what she calls “real life programs” for the children.
“I want to prepare them for school and the real world,” she said.
“They use real cups not wooden ones, we learn everyday life things, I enjoy seeing the children grow with the programs I implement.”
Some of her programs include raising chooks, and later she will get the children to gather the eggs.
They will add them to cartons and sell them to parents, with the proceeds to help purchase new toys.
“That is real life skills,” she said.
There are also worm farms, supermarkets and many more activities for the children to enjoy.
When asked what she enjoys most about her job she simply replies “the relationships”.
“Families become family.
“I get one-on-one quality time with the children.
“I’m so lucky in my journey to have such supportive parents.
“And I offer a program where children can just be children.”
It is easy to see why Annette has been nominated, her passion escapes with every response.
Alongside Annette’s nomination Intereach has also had five other registered educators from Deniliquin - Amanda Rhook, Kirsty Thomas, Angela Coffey, Lynda Grimison - nominated in the 2023 Excellence in Family Day Care awards.
More than 5000 nominations were placed for the awards this year, which is a testament to the amazing work done by educators, coordinators and services in the family day care sector to deliver high quality early childhood education and care to children across Australia.
Regional winners will be announced on September 26 and state award winners are announced on October 10.
National finalists will be announced on October 17, and national winners announced on November 25.
Enjoying the new four seater pram are (clockwise, from back left) Hugh Mills, Louie Bulmer, Indi Pogue and Leo Chappell.
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