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Changes to FDCA Board

Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) is delighted to announce the appointment of two members to the Board of Directors.

Following the FDCA Annual General Meeting in November, Priscilla Schwanz and Rebecca Rushby were both appointed to the FDCA Board of Directors on the back of being successfully nominated and elected as member-elected Directors.

South Australian family day care educator Priscilla Schwanz continues her tenure as an FDCA Director after originally joining the Board in 2011.

Priscilla became a family day care educator for the Northside Family Day Care service in South Australia in 1984.  During her 35 years in the sector, Priscilla has worked closely with staff and educators with the introduction of the National Quality Reform,  been a proactive member on several committees and mentored educators in both country and city areas.

Priscilla obtained her Diploma of Children’s Services in 2007 and has continued training in many areas including disability support and become a member of the FDCA National Members' Forum in 2008.

As a committee member for the Careproviders of South Australia and the Educators Association of South Australia for 20 years, 14 of those as President, Priscilla brings a wealth of experience and sector knowledge to the Board.

"I strongly believe it is extremely important to have an educator on the Board of FDCA as a voice for all educators from the grass roots perspective and I will continue to work diligently on behalf of all stakeholders," says Priscilla.

Rebecca is the Director of Happy Campers Family Day Care based in Victoria, which holds the philosophy that "every child deserves to feel secure, loved and that they have a home away from home where they belong."

Rebecca's experience in child care started at the young age of 14 when she placed an ad in the local paper for weekend babysitting.

After working outside of the child care sector and having two children of her own, Rebecca's interest and desire to work in childcare was still strong, which saw Rebecca complete her Diploma in Children Services, become a family day care educator with Banyule City Council Family Day Care and then Early Childhood Management Services.

In January 2014, Rebecca set up Happy Campers Family Day Care with the vision to develop the type of service she was looking for as an educator. The business model, policies and procedures were focused on reducing the clerical burden on the educator, allowing them more time to devote to the care and education of the children.

Rebecca is especially interested in improving community perceptions of the family day care sector as a whole. "We are a collection of highly educated, highly energetic women and men whose passion to educate and protect children in our care is second to none," says Rebecca.

Along with these appointments, FDCA would also like to announce that Pam Johns has stepped down from the FDCA Board and her role as the Board Chair. FDCA would like to thank Pam for the wonderful contribution that she has made as a Board member for the last seven years and also as the Board Chair for the past two years.

This change sees current Board member Phil Naylor move into the role of Board Chair, Sarah Fowler has taken on the role of Deputy Board Chair.

Taken Family Day Care Australia Latest News 16 November 2018