Bushland beginnings: A unique Family Day Care experience in Regional Victoria

From bushland adventures to puddle jumping, regional educator Rhianna is creating a unique Family Day Care experience that inspires curiosity, connection and learning.

For Rhianna, Family Day Care is more than a job. It's an opportunity to create a home away from home where children can learn, explore and thrive.

Situated in Darnum, a small rural town in West Gippsland, Rhianna has built a learning environment that embraces nature, adventure and connection. Think gumboots, puddle jumping, animals, bushland exploration and plenty of fresh air. It's a setting that reflects the unique opportunities regional Family Day Care can offer children and families. 

For educators considering a career change or looking for greater flexibility and autonomy, Rhianna's story highlights why Family Day Care could be the perfect fit.

Why I chose Family Day Care

Rhianna's path to early childhood education wasn't a conventional one.

Before becoming an educator, she worked with racehorses. When the physical demands of the industry became too much, she decided to pursue a long-held interest in working with children. After spending six months in centre-based care, she realised she wanted something different.

"I've always loved being around children," she says. "I worked in a centre for six months and thought, this is not for me."

Family Day Care offered the flexibility she was looking for, particularly as a parent of school-aged children.

Today, she enjoys being her own boss, setting her own routines and focusing on what matters most.

"It’s all about the children," she says. 

Life at Rhianna's Family Day Care

No two days are exactly the same, and that's part of what makes Family Day Care so special.

The day usually starts with children arriving at the family home, where a warm fire is often crackling during winter mornings. Once everyone arrives, the group comes together for a shared meal before deciding how the day will unfold.

"We all sit down together, have something to eat and then, depending on how the children lead, we either go outside or stay inside and play, or do some sensory activities."

Afternoons are often spent outdoors.

 

   

Rather than following a rigid schedule, Rhianna tailors experiences to children's interests and curiosity.

"I try to expand on the children's interests. I'll set up activities based on what they're interested in, and I also like to sit back and watch what they're drawn to."

Supporting families with flexibility

One of the biggest advantages of Family Day Care is flexibility, particularly for families living in regional areas and commuting to work.

Rhianna is open from 7am to 6pm, providing families with extra breathing room when travel times are unpredictable.

She believes Family Day Care should feel like an extension of a child's home and family.

"I try to make it like an extension of their family and home," she says. "Most of the children just run through the door in the morning."

That flexibility can make a significant difference during life's unexpected moments.

"If there's been a hold-up on the highway, families know their child is safe with me," she explains.

"I've provided dinner before for a family whose dad got stuck on the highway. When he got back, it was one less thing he had to stress about."

A regional experience unlike any other

What makes Rhianna's Family Day Care truly unique is its regional setting.

Located on a property surrounded by bushland in Darnum, her Family Day Care has evolved into a nature-rich learning environment where children can connect with the outdoors every day.

"I'm setting it up like a bush day care."

Children spend much of their time exploring outdoors, observing wildlife, learning about animals and engaging with nature through play.

"We've got lots of animals to learn about here and we try to be outside as much as possible."

In fact, rainy weather is often greeted with excitement.

"As soon as it starts raining, they want to get their gumboots on and go find puddles."

The children even have opportunities to interact with some special animal residents, including Rhianna's pet cow, who makes regular appearances for pats and treats.

For families seeking a more personalised, nature-based approach to early learning, it's an experience that's hard to replicate elsewhere.

The difference Windermere makes

When it comes to running a Family Day Care service, having the right support behind you means you can spend more time focusing on what matters most, creating meaningful experiences for children and families.

Rhianna credits Windermere with providing the support and guidance she needs to confidently run her Family Day Care business.

"Windermere is so supportive," she says

Whether it's advice about incidents, operational questions or day-to-day support, she knows help is only a phone call away.

"If they haven't answered the phone, they'll call me back within five minutes."

She also values the flexibility and autonomy she receives as an educator.

Having worked with multiple Family Day Care services over the years, Rhianna says the level of support stands out.

"I've been with three services since I started, and by far Windermere has been the most supportive."

Her advice to aspiring Family Day Care educators

If you've ever thought about becoming a Family Day Care educator, Rhianna's advice is simple.

"Do it. It's great.

For her, the most rewarding part is the relationships built with children and families over time.

Even after children leave her care, those connections remain.

"The children who have moved on from care still come running up to me. They still have that connection."

In regional communities, those relationships matter. They help create the sense of belonging, trust and connection that Family Day Care is known for.

And for Rhianna, that's exactly what makes the role so special.

Learn how you can become a Family Day Care educator here. To enrol your child in Family Day Care visit here.