AMANDA BROWNLIE

Giggle Kids Family Day Care

I have been working in the Child Care Industry in some aspects for the last 28 years, from the Long Day Care setting to Private in Home Care. Early on in my career I had the opportunity to run a Holiday Programme for children with disabilities and their siblings, which I loved. I have spent many years working with children, teenagers and adults with disabilities, in private Home Care and Respite Facilities. I have an Associate Diploma in Child Care, a Certificate 3 in Disability Services and a Certificate 4 in Aged Care. I have a Working with Childrens Check, Police Clearance and have relevant First Aid Training to care for your children. I have decided to develop my own Family Day Care so as to keep me working within my community, run my own business and provide a safe environment for children to allow families to work without the worry.

I live with my husband Jim, who works in the Timber Industry and who is also a disability carer, and my daughter Tiana (18) who works at the Greenbushes Mine. Jim will be a part of the FDC as my assistant after work and will help with the afternoon routine, i.e., school pick up if needed. We are Host Parents to a 23 year old Autistic man who we have known and cared for over 6 years. Declan is a valued member of our family and will be an asset to the Family Day Care environment. We have two dogs, Mia, a Jack Russel and Rosie, a Shar Pei. They also are valued members of our family, and love attention, but we have a doggy day care ready for them to have quiet time.

We raise chickens and will involve the children in a breeding programme so we will have babies, and of course feeding and collecting the eggs. I believe children need to feel safe and secure to be happy and therefore open to learning and exploring. We live in a beautiful part of the country and your children will be given the opportunity to explore the bush, our community and build relationships with other community members. I believe it takes a village to raise a child and involving your children with community groups will strengthen their personalities, beliefs and guide them to respect the rights and feelings of others.

My main focus is ensuring that your child is happy and learning through positive interactions with others and is given every opportunity to express themselves through structured and imaginative play. The children will be empowered to choose what they prefer to do and programmes will be structured accoding to the conversations with your children.

I am an easy going person who loves any excuse to act like a child, the noisier and messier the better!