Two family day care educators in Casey have won Family Day Care Australia’s Excellence in Family Day Care Regional Awards after being selected from thousands of applicants.
Yattowita (Nilanthi) Withana from Hampton Park, and Thanushka Samarasinghe from Narre Warren were two of the 65 regional winners from across Australia after being recognised for providing outstanding Family Day Care services.
This is the second year in a row that Nilanthi has won Family Day Care Australia’s Regional Award for Bayside and South East Suburbs. She felt blessed to have won and thanked the City of Casey’s support for her success.
“What a blessing it is to be recognised as the best educator in Victoria’s Bayside and South Eastern Suburbs for the second time. I could not have gone this far without the enormous assistance and guidance I always had from the City of Casey,” she said.
Thanushka won the Regional Award for the Eastern Suburbs, and with a background in primary and secondary school teaching, she loves working with children and was honoured to also receive the award.
“I’m really happy and grateful that I won the award, and would also like to say that not just me but all the educators I know in the community are doing a great job. We put our heart and soul into our work,” she said.
Both educators noted the vital role that family day care services play in the community, giving the children in their care more one on one interaction as a result of smaller groups in a home environment.
“Kids are able to get more attention, as the number of children in the family day care groups are small and we see each other as family,” said Thanushka.
Councillor Rex Flannery congratulated both women on their amazing achievement and acknowledged the crucial role educators and carers like Nilanthi and Thanushka play in the community.
“I wish to congratulate Thanushka and Nilanthi on the outstanding service they provide to Casey families,” he said.
“Our community’s educators and carers play a big part in children’s development and growth, so it’s fantastic to see their outstanding contribution being recognised through this award.”
The City of Casey was also nominated for service of the year, as recognition of excellent service delivery.
