Online professional development program for family day care

The family day care sector has been a focus of Ahead for Business for several years, recognising the unique environment and responsibilities that come with working in this sector. In fact, family day care services provide support to over 107,000 children each year.

To support this important work, Everymind has launched its free professional development program for educators, managers and coordinators nationally, in partnership with Family Day Care Australia.

Supporting the mental health of children is the first-of-it's-kind online program specifically tailored to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in family day care services.

Co-designed by mental health and early childhood education experts, the program has received positive feedback throughout its extensive trials, with one educator saying, “it should be a compulsory part of training for all educators.”

The online program equips family day care educators with the skills to maintain key partnerships with families and other professionals, create positive environments, support children’s social and emotional wellbeing, and develop early intervention strategies to support people experiencing mental ill-health.

Practical resources including fact sheets and planning tools make it easy for educators, managers and coordinators to apply what they learn to their day-to-day work.

Videos and podcasts from real-life educators, coordinators and leading academics help to make the information engaging, clear and concise.

The program also encourages family day care educators to reflect on their own mental health and wellbeing, and there is an additional module on how to foster a positive culture in their services specifically for managers and coordinators.