Meet Our Educators
Our Educators come from a range of backgrounds and locations, but have all met the regulatory and Council requirements to be registered as Upper Hunter Family Day Care Educators.
They all hold Certificate 111 Children’s Services Certificates or higher, First Aid and Anaphylaxis qualifications, have undergone criminal record checking, and have passed a home safety check.
All Educators run their own business under the monitoring and support of the Co-ordination Unit staff based at Scone.
Kate Murphy - KLM Family Day Care
Operating in the Murrurundi area, Kate holds a Certificate 111 in Children’s Services, First Aid Qualifications and has had a Working with Children Check and Police Check. She has been nominated for two years running (2023-4) for an Educator of the Year Award in the Australian Family Day Care Annual Awards.
Passionate about play based learning, Kate’s weekly programme puts a focus on the children’s interests and extending the children’s learning experiences. It is on display for parents, and Kate encourages input from parents about activities their child and family would value.
The children go on weekly visits to the Library and excursions to the park, with an exciting visit to the Café on special occasions.
Kates entire environment is dedicated to Family Day Care and the children and provides a wonderful home experience for her youngsters and families.
Contact KLM Family Day Care
Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Contact Kate through the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit Office:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email: uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
Belinda Hawkins - Belinda's Day Care
Operating in the Scone area, Belinda is Diploma trained, with all the essential Certificates such as First Aid and Working with Children Check etc, and has been nominated Educator of the Year twice, most recently in 2024.
Her passion is about having a happy welcoming home for all children on entry, building self-confidence and resilience. She enjoys watching children grow, learn, and explore in her environment. All children are treated as her own and are nurtured, respected and given the experiences all young children require to flourish, showing respect, diversity and open communication between herself, the children, parents and guardians.
Belinda’s environment features a large screened area for play during all seasons. This is complemented by a large grassy play area with slides, bikes, cubby, a bark chipped area with a mud kitchen cubby, and lots of cooking utensils to make and explore in the kitchen. Kitchen activities are a regular highlight with the children. There is a large cement area for bike riding.
The exciting environment supports a child led programme that follows and extends the children’s interests and is supplemented with special activities in themed events such as Dental Week, Science Week and Book Week. Belinda and the children do Facetime, story time to fellow educators, craft, dancing, and story reading.
Belinda has an Instagram page for enrolled families, which is updated daily with what they have been up to, and each Sunday, of what’s happing the following week.
Contact Belinda's Day Care
Monday - Wednesdays, 8:00am to 5:00pm
Contact Belinda's Day Care through the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit Office:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email: uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
Donnna Mepham - Donna's family Day Care
Operating in the Denman area for the last 24 years, Donna holds a Certificate 111 in Children’s Services, First Aid and CPR certificates, and has completed Police checks.
Donna’s Family Daycare offers a beautiful indoor area with loads of fun and entertaining toys, as well as a large outdoor area that offers a shaded concrete space for bike riding as well as plenty of grass to run around on. She offers all different climbing equipment for encouraging the development of gross motor skills as well as a mud kitchen and cubby for the best opportunity of role playing with friends.
Her programme is tailored to the children's individual interests. Donna turns learning into a fun experience. She enjoys watching the children grow through her programs each and every week. Learning how to write their name, learning colours and counting as well as picture identification. The growth she sees in the children through her programs is fulfilling.
Donna's Family Day Care
Tuesday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Contact Donna's Family Day Care through the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit Office:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email: uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
Grace van der Burg - Little Village Family Day Care
Led by Grace, a professional childcare Educator with a Diploma and years of hands-on experience, Little Village opened in early 2024 to bring a unique blend of warmth, fun, and discovery to young children.
Her service priorities are to create a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment where every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged. Grace goes above and beyond to explore children’s individual interests and inspire a love for learning.
At Little Village, Grace believes that play is the best way to learn. Her carefully designed space includes construction areas, a mud kitchen, and hands-on sensory play zones, encouraging children to explore, create, and grow. The days often include water play, plenty of craft, STEM activities, and group times that foster social skills and collaboration.
The programme is child-led, allowing the interests of each child to guide the activities. It celebrates special days like Book Week, Science Week, and even World Pancake Day, creating an exciting calendar of exploration. The program supports development across all domains, offering activities that strengthen fine motor, gross motor, and cognitive skills, helping each child thrive at their own pace.
Little Village Family Daycare has a public Facebook page where Grace posts her ideas.
Little Village Family Day Care
Monday - Thursday, 8:00am to 4:00pm
Contact Grace through the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit Office:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email: uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
Based in the Merriwa area, with 23 years’ experience and a Certificate 111 in Children’s Services, Jayne knows her way around providing a quality Childcare and Education Service, having cared for many children in the Merriwa area. Her service encourages children to become socially prepared for life, empathetic towards their peers, and to learn how to be a valued part of a group.
She offers a dedicated family day care room and a fully secured fenced outdoor area with plenty of room for activities. Jayne also provides all meals and snacks - a great benefit particularly for busy working parents.
Her strong interest is in helping youngsters learn how to be valued social and empathetic children.
Jayne’s Programme features child led interests, along with intentional teaching on things like self-help skills, pre schooling skills - fine motor (drawing, scissors, play dough), STEM, sustainability and gardening.
Jayne's Family Day Care
Interested in further information, or Jayne's vacancies? Please contact the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit Office:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email: uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
Sofie Casson - Sofie's Family Day Care
Operating in the Scone area. Starting her career path at the Upper Hunter Learning Centre she has been operating in the Child Care industry for 14 years after finding her love and passion in being a part of the early years’ growth and development of children. Sofie’s Family Day Care has been operating since 2016, with time out for the birth of her daughters, and 3 years as a Co-ordinator in an Out of School Care Service. She re-opened her FDC service in 2022.
With a Diploma level qualification in child care and education she gains joy out of seeing the children’s independence grow and daily provides opportunities for this to happen. Sofie loves the connections that family day care offers with children and their families. She aims to create a welcoming environment filled with warmth, laughter and challenges for each child. A space where families are comfortable and happy leaving their child in her care.
Her renovated double garage offers a purpose designed indoor playarea enabling open ended learning opportunities in a large area for the children to play. It is complimented by a large outdoor area with sandpit, and room to explore, create and develop new skills.
The Programme is both led by children’s interests and also includes planned activities which Sofie develops as rich and meaningful for each child. Her children love going for walks along Satur road, staying up to date with the community, watching the trucks go past, seeing the airplanes taking off and chatting along the way about what they see. The children really connect via sensory experience and such activities are implemented daily. Sofie and the children love being busy, moving their bodies and practicing different methods on mindfulness.
Sofie's Family Day Care
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm
Contact Sofie's Family Day Care through the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit Office:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email: uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
Ebony Hawkins - Eb's Day Care
Ebony holds the Diploma in Early Childhood qualification, with a First Aid Certificate, Working with Children Check and Police Check. She has also attended additional training in Risky Play, Traffic and Children, and Good For Kids Workshop.
Twice nominated for an “Educator of the Year” Award, she likes to ensure that the children and their families feel that her service and home is theirs as well, and really emphasises the “Family” in Family Day Care. Focusing on each child’s individual wellbeing is also strongly emphasised in her service and her approach.
Ebony’s environment has plenty of outdoor space including a large covered concrete area which allows for shaded play, group gatherings and bike riding. Her programme reflects the children’s interests and is adapted to suit their age and abilities. Each day they have group time where children come together to share their news, events and join together to share astory, songs and rhymes. Also included in the programme are events and occasions which are current in our world and community.
The ability to use one of the local footy fields allows for excursions for a different playspace to undertake diverse activities.
Ebony’s service philosophy reflects her loving and caring nature, as she strives to provide care for all children equally. As a service, the children and Ebony accept anyone who walks into her service, for who they are, and their talents and abilities.
Eb's Day Care
Wednesday - Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
For more information or to contact Ebony, please contact the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit Office:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email: uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
Family Day Care Australia Website
Megan Hollingsworth - Megan's Family Day Care
Megan is a highly experienced educator, having worked as a family day care Educator for 20 years. She holds a Certificate 111 in children’s services, First Aid qualifications and has undergone a Working with Children Check.
She believes that children learn best through play, and it is essential that every child has the right to experience quality childcare.
Megan is committed to working in partnership with parents to ensure the best outcomes for their children. She recognises that families know their children best and uses parent feedback to enhance her programme of activities.
Her indoor and outdoor areas support an exciting learning environment with plenty to explore and have fun.
Megan supports each child as a unique individual, with distinctive abilities and interests.
Megan's Family Day Care
Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Contact Megan's Family Day Care through the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit Office:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email: uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
Sophie Thompson - Lifelong Learners Family Day Care
Sophie believes in providing a nurturing environment where children can flourish emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. She is committed to ensuring that each child feels valued and understood.
Her philosophy is rooted in the principles of caring for our environment, embracing indigenous perspectives, fostering kindness and love. She encourages family involvement, ensuring that children see themselves reflected in our environment, ensuring equity over equality, recognizing that early childhood is the foundation of the child's future and, play is the work of childhood, and that children are valuable members of their community. Sophie encourages families to share their traditions, stories, and aspirations, enriching her program with diverse perspectives and experiences.
The programme of activities she provides is led by the children’s interests, and is interwoven with activities involving environmental sustainability and nature. Gardening is a favourite activity of her children.
Sophie sees learning as a lifelong journey and is dedicated to laying a strong foundation that nurtures curiosity, resilience, and a profound respect for the world around us.
Lifelong Learners Family Day Care
Monday - Thursday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
Contact Lifelong Learners Family Day Care through the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit Office:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email: uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
Other Registered Educators in Upper Hunter Family Day Care:
We have a number of other registered educators including:
- Makala in the Scone area
- Tracey in the Aberdeen area
Please make contact with the Co-ordination Unit for further details and vacancies:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email: uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
Thought about becoming an educator?
We'd love to talk to you! Please head over to our starting a career page for more information
or get in contact with us through the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit Office:
Phone: 02 6540 1151
Email:uhfdc@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au