Caring educator awarded
CARING for children has always come naturally for educator Georgette Ahfock.
Moving to the Toowoomba region in the mid 80s, Ms Ahfock began looking after her neighbour’s children and eventually opened her own home-based childcare centre.
Now the experienced educator has been recognised for her hard work and commitment to the learning and development of the future generations of Australia. Nominated by the parents
of the children Ms Ahfock looks after, she was recently announced as the Family Day Care Australia Excellence in Family Day Care Award winner for the Darling Downs.
“For me this isn’t a job – it’s a real passion, and I love connecting with children and their families,” Ms Ahfock said.
“I feel so humbled to receive this award and acknowledgment.”
The 60-year-old educator has been running Georgette’s Family Day Care for decades and over that time has even looked after three generations of children from the same family.
Currently caring for four children daily, the mother-oftwo takes on newborn babies up to preschool-aged children.
“Helping create positive learning outcomes for children is really important to me, and I love watching them succeed,” Ms Ahfock said.
“The families become my family and my home becomes their home … I still get regular visits from kids I used to look after or see them at the shops when they’re all grown up.”
Family Day Care Australia chief executive officer Andrew Paterson said the awards had been running for 10 years.
“Educators like Georgette provide vital support to children, families and communities all across Australia,” Mr Paterson said.
“The flexible, high-quality early education provided by educators like Georgette is what makes family day care so unique and is the reason why so many families chose family day care.”
One of 69 regional Australian winners, the passionate educator is now in the running to become a national finalist.
National finalists will be announced on September 13 and winners on October 30.