Northern Rivers Family Day Care

🔬🌱 Science Week at Family Day Care! 🌱🔬

National Science Week 2026 (15-23 August) is on, and our educators are embracing opportunities for children to explore, investigate and experience wonder about the world around them.

Take a look at this beautiful learning experience below from our wonderful educator Belinda:

"This years theme is 'Seeds of Science' and today our theme is 'Earth and Country'. We are stepping outside for messy mud play, studying the texture of native Australian plants and seeds while learning about caring for Country and sustainability.

The photos are of our experience that encourages our little learners to analyse textures of native leaves, bark and seed pods as they press them into play dough. We also searched for the names of our Australian plants and names in Bundjalung and practiced saying them. One little learner created a face from the nature items naming the parts of the face as they created (eyes, ears, etc)."

Did you know today is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day? 🎉

This year's theme, "Living Our Truth," celebrates the incredible journeys of these children as they grow with the strength of culture, community, and connection to Country. Let's come together to nurture their voices and dreams, ensuring every child walks strong in their identity. 🌟

How are you celebrating this special day? Share your thoughts below! ❤️

Learning happens everywhere! 🌿

Whether it's jumping into muddy puddles, running fingers through different sensory mediums, building roads in the sand, sharing stories with friends or challenging ourselves on the obstacle course, every play experience helps children grow.

Through play, children develop confidence, communication, problem-solving skills, creativity and strong relationships with others.

We love seeing our educators create environments where children can learn, explore and simply enjoy being children!

What play opportunities have you encountered this week?

Take a look at these beautiful learning provocations some of our educators have implemented during NAIDOC Week, supporting children's emerging understanding and celebrating learning through play.

These simple experiences invite children to explore native flora and fauna, patterns and tracks in nature through sensory play, and to enjoy making music together using painted tapping sticks. Open-ended activities like these encourage curiosity, creativity, and conversations about caring for Country, storytelling, and the many ways people connect with the world around them.

❤️🖤💛

🌿🖤💛❤️ Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2026 – 50 Years of Deadly 🖤💛❤️
Today, our Northern Rivers Family Day Care team was proud to celebrate NAIDOC Week at our Lismore community event, coming together with educators, children, families, and the wider community to honour and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and achievements.
The day was filled with meaningful conversations, community connections, and opportunities to learn, reflect, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the First Nations peoples of Australia. Thank you to everyone who visited us and helped make the day such a wonderful celebration!
Our Tweed Heads team was also proudly representing Northern Rivers Family Day Care at the NAIDOC Week celebrations at Arkinstall Park, networking with local organisations and connecting with families and community members. It was wonderful to have our service represented across both regions.
We are grateful to be part of communities that continue to value learning, connection, and respect, and we look forward to continuing these conversations beyond NAIDOC Week.

🎉 Ready for an unforgettable experience? Join us for Big Deadly Day! 🖤💛❤️
Celebrate culture, community, and connection with us. Bring your friends and family for a day filled with fun and learning.
Don't miss out

Join us this Wednesday at Oaks Oval, Lismore, for a vibrant NAIDOC Week celebration on Bundjalung Country! 🎊 Enjoy a day full of community, culture, and sport with something for everyone.

Event highlights:
🌟 Welcome to Country by Aunty Charlotte Williams
🎶 Cultural performances & live music
🏉 Touch footy competition
🍽️ Elders’ Tent with catering
🔥 FREE BBQ lunch & rides
🛍️ Market stalls & crafts
🦘 Wildlife Twins & face painting
📸 Photoshoots & inflatable soccer
🎯 Obstacle Course

Bring the whole family for a deadly day of fun and connection! See you there! 🤝

🌿❤️ NAIDOC Week 2026 Is Around the Corner! ❤🌿

Northern Rivers communities are coming together to celebrate the upcoming NAIDOC Week, recognising and celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year's milestone reaches 50 Years of Deadly!

We've put together a collection of free and local NAIDOC Week events happening across our region. These include events in LISMORE, BALLINA, KYOGLE, TWEED and BYRON areas. See the attached flyers for more information!

Whether it's attending a community event, listening to local stories, or participating in family-friendly activities, there's something deadly for everyone.

📍 Check out the event posters below to find an event near you.

At Northern Rivers Family Day Care, we are committed to creating opportunities to connect with our local community. We value opportunities for educators, children and families to learn about and celebrate the rich cultures, histories and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn, work (and play!) and to Elders past, present and emerging.

We hope to see you there!

🎉 Congratulations to Our 2026 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards Nominees! 🎉

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding educators, coordinators and service representatives who have been nominated in the 2026 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.

Educator Nominees:

🌟 Christie Doven
🌟 Christine Cook
🌟 Claire Barton
🌟 Jackie Roberts
🌟 Lila Heterick
🌟 Hannah Alizare Greene

Coordinator Nominees:

🌟 Caroline (Tweed Office)
🌟 Christie B (Tweed Office)

Service Nominee:
🌟 Northern Rivers Children’s Services – Family Day Care

These nominations reflect the dedication, professionalism and genuine care shown by our team every day. We are honoured that families have taken the time to recognise the positive impact our educators, coordinators and service have on the lives of children and families across the Northern Rivers.

Thank you to all of the families who submitted nominations and congratulations to each of our nominees. We are so proud to have you representing Northern Rivers Family Day Care.

Your commitment to providing high-quality education and care makes a difference every day!