BCHS Quality of care 2024 digital - Flipbook - Page 26
BENDIGO FAMILY DAY CARE AND ELMORE SOCIAL SUPPORT GROUP
Local kids learning from the best
Bendigo Family Day Care celebrated an
award-winning educator in November 2023.
Casey Seidel, of Eaglehawk, was named the
Family Day Care Australia Regional Educator
of the Year for the Bendigo, Goldfields &
Macedon Ranges region.
The awards recognise the educators,
coordinators and services who deliver high
quality early childhood education and care
across Australia.
Casey chose to establish her own homebased business with the assistance of
Bendigo Family Day Care IN 2022, after 20
years as an early childhood educator.
She was nominated by one or more of the
families that attend her home-based service,
then chosen as winner out of more than
5000 nominations.
Several Bendigo Family Day Care educators,
coordinators, and the Bendigo FDC service
itself, received nominations for 2023. In
2024, the service has received its biggest
number of nominations yet.
Pictured: Bendigo Family Day Care coordinators Bec Fitzpatrick and Tamarra Tie, with educator Casey Seidel, centre.
Elmore Social Support
Group returns home
In May 2024 the Elmore Social
Support Group moved back to
its original home in the Christine
Cumming Activity Centre behind
Elmore Primary Health.
The group had spent the
previous few years meeting in a
larger community hall in Elmore
due to the social distancing
requirements of COVID-19.
The move coincided with longterm Kamarooka resident John
joining the core group of 17
members. John was a full-time
carer for his wife, who
passed away two years ago.
“There’s nothing worse than
sitting around out there by
yourself,” he said. “This is my
support group. I don’t have any
family support locally.” John had
recently applied for My Aged
Care support and learnt about
this group.
“It’s been a life saver really,”
he said. “It’s good to be
here with these guys. It’s
necessary.”
The group supports people
over the age of 65, or those
with a disability, to remain
social, independent and well in
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Elmore. It’s run by Judy Ryan with
support from Christine KirbyMiller and Sue Locke.
The weekly program of activities
includes a day out, and 2023-24
featured day trips to the Murray
River, Bendigo Botanic Gardens,
Rosalind Park, Redesdale Hotel
and more.
