Meet our Co-ordination Unit Staff
Our Head Office (also known as the Co-ordination Unit) is located at Upper Hunter Shire Council, 124 Liverpool St, Scone. Our service area covers the Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook Shires, and further afield. If you wish to speak to one of our staff, give us a call on 6540 1151, or drop into the Scone Office of Upper Hunter Shire Council and ask for Family Day Care.
Our current Co-ordination Unit team consists of:
The Nominated Supervisor (equivalent to a Centre Director) is Nicole McKenzie who has worked in the childcare field for over 25 years. Nicole is currently on leave
to support childcare services in another Council service.
Michelle Miller
Michelle Miller (Walsh) is our Nominated Supervisor while Nicole is on leave, and a very experienced Children’s Services Officer, having 30 years’ experience in the early childhood area, with 21 of those years in the Family Day Care sector.
Michelle holds an Associate Diploma in Social Science (Child Studies) and has been nominated “Co-ordinator of the Year (Family Day Care Australia Awards 2020-2023)
Michelle says that Interconnectedness plays a large role within her approach to the ecec sector, not just from a philosophical perspective but also a scientific one (quantum entanglement). Knowing the concepts of how we are made physically and how we relate to the natural world and knowing that our actions can have a profound effect on those and things around us, influences the approach she takes. Her style is respectful of these aspects and she encourages acting with responsibility and considering long term consequences, living in harmony with the natural environment, practicing empathy and understanding, cultivating gratitude, practicing mindfulness, and recognising the interconnectiveness of our resources and other people.
Louise McRae
Louise McRae is our Children’s Services Officer, with many years’ experience with Upper Hunter Family Day Care. She is currently on long term leave.
Sarah Fraser
Sarah Fraser is currently assisting in the office for 2 to 3 days per week while Louise is on leave, in the role of Administration and Children’s Services Officer.
She holds a Certificate 111 in Children’s Services and tertiary qualifications in Child, Youth and Family Services. Working in Early Childhood for 14years, she has experience working with UHFDC as an In-Home Care Educator before moving to spend some time within Long Day Care at the ELC, as well as having experience in Preschool settings.
Sarah is passionate about Early Childhood, with a special interest in the natural environment and nature play and the influence and impact it has upon children’s development and wellbeing.
She is enjoying supporting our Educator team, keeping our social media updated and helping with UHFDC projects.
Helen Clark
Helen Clark is our very experienced Administration Officer having worked with Upper Hunter Shire Council for more than 40 years in the customer service and administration areas, with 27+ years specifically in the Upper Hunter Family Day Care Service.
She is the “go to” person for administrative records, and the legislative and Council requirements that apply to them, including Enrolment Forms, the processing of Attendance Records, Invoicing and Statements, applying the Child Care Subsidy(CCS) that reduces fees for eligible families, and ensuring immunization information and other child records are up to date. Helen also knows her way around the Harmony web system, which is the Family Day Care software system for administration, used by Educators.
Helen enjoys supporting families, Educators and the other staff and is always willing to discuss and provide information on any administrative issues in a positive and friendly manner.
Jade Maxwell
Jade Maxwell is our backup Administration Officer for Family Day Care, whose main focus is on administration work for the Early Learning Centre. She relieves Family Day Care staff when needed and has a good knowledge of the administration processes and Harmony software, to be able to answer enquiries.
Jade holds tertiary qualifications and has worked 18+ months for Upper Hunter Shire Council in its Children’s Services section.
Kerri Cone
Kerri Cone is our casual Administration Assistant, currently working to recruit new Educators to the service under a grant from the Australian Government Community Child Care Fund. With a degree in Community Services, a Certificate 3 in Children’s Services and many years past experience in Family Day Care, including as a Service Manager and an FDC Parent, she espouses the virtues of home based childcare.
She has recently completed a Business Plan for the service, and is now working on promotion and marketing of Upper Hunter Family Day Care.
The Team is supervised overall by Council’s Manager of Community Services, Amanda Catzikiris, who believes Family Day Care is a great child care and education model, particularly in delivering an essential service to rural and remote families. It is part of Council’s approach to providing valuable services that support families in our Shire and nearby areas, and enables new businesses to develop through recruitment of Educators to meet community childcare needs.
Amanda
Amanda holds tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Education and Management and has had extensive experience in community services in local government and education sectors.
The Director of Environmental and Community Services, Mat Pringle is in charge of the Service, under the General Manager of Council.