Start your own business with Orange Family Day Care

The idea of becoming a business owner can be daunting. 

There is now a new opportunity to start your own business with the help and support of a trusted organisation, work your own hours, and have access to large support group of fellow educators and business owners.

Join Orange Family Day Care as an educator and Orange City Council will give you $2000 towards the start-up costs of beginning your business journey.

Family Day Care educators can earn while raising their own children, choose their own hours and their workload.

Former centre-based educator Krystal Mitchell says being able to be a part of the program while raising her own two boys, Austin, 18-months and Mason, four, has been a win-win.

“I was previously working in a long-day centre, and I’ve been running my own business as a family day care educator for about two years, she said.

“I did it first because I wanted to spend more time with my eldest son, my only child at the time.

“But it was also to have stronger relationships with the children that I have in care; in a long day-care centre, the children are always moving classes. You simply don’t get the chance to develop the continuity and meaningful relationships that you can get with family day-care”.

Family Day Care business owners are part of a strong-support network with regular “play-group” sessions with other educators, and at Council’s Orange Occasional Care Centre.

“These are great, you get to connect with other educators and build new collaborations and social skills,” Krystal said.

Krystal intends to continue running her own business as a Family Day Care educator when both her children move on to school themselves.

“Definitely 100 per cent, I love it. I don’t think I’ll go back to anything else,” she said.

With about 20 educators currently-involved in the Orange area, coordinator Megan Dawson said the program could do with more educators.

“We see it more as an opportunity for people who want to change careers,” she explained.

“There is a huge demand for Family day Care in Orange. We have many children on waiting lists.”

“We’d love to talk to anybody who is interested, people who are already working in the industry, or are interested in getting involved,” Megan said.

Council staff assist educators with an array of help and advice including, training, accreditation, accounting and meeting potential clients.

Ms Dawson said the independent, self-governing nature of the work was a major incentive for many people sick of the office treadmill.

“You become your own boss and you’re running your own business, supported by Orange City Council,” she explained.

Far from being isolated at home, the program integrates regular group get-togethers that benefit both the children and the carers.

“This larger group experience we hold fortnightly; it helps with networking and professional development as well as allowing the children to engage with a larger group of other playmates,” Megan said.

Part of this professional development involves carers either having passed or working towards their Certificate III in Children’s Services.

She said that the flexible nature of the work is part of its appeal for many people who want to enjoy their own children’s early years at home.

“School hours are really difficult for working parents, but this lets you stay at home with your own children.”

Educator and business owner Trish Streatfeild enjoys the work so much; she barely remembers her life before she was involved with this unique early childhood model.