FDCQ appoints new CEO with deep family day care roots

Family Day Care Queensland (FDCQ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stella Conroy as Chief Executive Officer, effective Monday, 9 June 2025. 

Family Day Care Queensland welcomes Stella Conroy as Chief Executive Officer 

Ms Conroy brings a unique combination of grassroots family day care experience, national policy expertise, and proven executive leadership to the role, making her ideally suited to guide FDCQ's continued growth and support for Queensland's family day care community. 

A personal connection to family day care 

Stella's journey with the family day care sector began as a parent, with her two eldest children attending Family Day Care Campbelltown in NSW. This personal experience sparked a career-long commitment that has seen her work across multiple aspects of the sector. 

"I am absolutely delighted to be joining the team at FDCQ," said Ms Conroy. "I have a long history with the Family Day Care sector, starting with my own children in care many years ago." 

Her hands-on experience includes working as a coordinator with Family Day Care schemes across Australia. Stella also worked right here at FDCQ in a Commonwealth-funded program supporting families with early childhood education and care access. During her time at FDCQ, she also acted as Executive Officer for various periods.

National leadership and policy expertise 

In recent years, Ms Conroy has been working at the national level in Canberra on policy and service delivery focused on improving wellbeing and safety outcomes for children, young people and their families across the social services sector. 

Her extensive leadership experience includes serving as Deputy CEO of Families Australia, where she frequently acted as CEO for up to 3 months annually over a 4-year period. During her tenure, she was responsible for coordinating the National Coalition for Child Safety and Wellbeing and contributed to the development of the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children. 

Most recently, she managed the Research, Evaluation and Policy Team at Relationships Australia Canberra & Region, overseeing diverse projects and facilitating partnerships with academic institutions. She also led the organisation's triennial Quality Assurance Review across ACT and southern NSW regions. 

Currently serving as Chair of Canberra PCYC Ltd, Ms Conroy has successfully guided the organisation through significant growth, including a transition to Company Limited by Guarantee and establishing a $20 million joint venture partnership with an ACT community housing provider. 

Educational background and professional recognition 

Ms Conroy holds a Master of Human Services from Australian Catholic University and has contributed to academic publications in child protection and suicide prevention research. Her work has been recognised internationally, with opportunities to present at conferences across Australia, Europe, and North America. 

Looking forward 

Ms Conroy's vision for FDCQ reflects her commitment to excellence and advocacy. She says, “My vision for FDCQ is that children, their families and carers, and educators are thriving and experiencing the highest quality in home-based early education and care. I am committed to advocating for the vital role of the home-based child care sector, ensuring it is valued, supported, and recognised as an essential pillar of the broader early education landscape." 

FDCQ Board Chair Dr. Fiona Margetts said the appointment reflected the organisation's commitment to visionary leadership that understands the sector from the ground up. 

"Stella's journey from family day care parent to national policy leader, combined with her proven track record in executive roles, makes her the ideal person to lead FDCQ into the future," she said. 

"Her deep understanding of both the practical challenges facing family day care educators and the policy environment in which we operate will be invaluable as we continue to advocate for and support Queensland's family day care community." 

On behalf of the Board, Dr. Margetts acknowledged and extended sincere thanks to Deb Tuckey, who served as Acting CEO, and members of the Senior Leadership Team, for their outstanding leadership, unwavering commitment, and invaluable contributions to the family day care sector. "While we have recruited for a new CEO, their dedication and service have continued to strengthen and elevate the work we are doing to ensure that home-based care remains a respected and vital part of the early childhood sector." 

Ms Conroy's appointment comes at an exciting time for FDCQ as the organisation continues to strengthen its support for family day care educators across Queensland and advocate for the important role they play in providing flexible, home-based early childhood education and care. 


Child Safety Review national public consultation and FDC implications

FDCQ is urging all Family Day Care services and educators to have their voices heard in the national Child Safety Review consultation currently underway. This important review proposes significant changes to the National Law and Regulations that could have particular implications for the Family Day Care sector.

About the Review

The Australian Government, in partnership with state and territory governments, has engaged Deloitte Access Economics to undertake a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) on proposed changes aimed at improving child safety arrangements in education and care services across Australia. These proposed policy options address recommendations from the Review of Child Safety Arrangements under the National Quality Framework.

Public consultation period

The consultation period is open now and closes on 11 June 2025. This is a critical opportunity for Family Day Care services and educators to provide feedback that will directly inform decisions about regulatory changes that may affect your day-to-day operations.

Key topics under review

The review focuses on 6 key areas, several of which have specific implications for Family Day Care.

1. Management of digital devices

Proposals include restricting the use of personal devices for taking images or videos of children, potentially requiring only service-issued devices to be used. This has particular implications for Family Day Care educators who often use personal devices for both business operations and documentation of children's learning.

2. Child Safety Training

Proposed changes aim to strengthen child protection provisions and introduce nationally consistent mandatory child safety training for all educators and staff.

3. Responding to Educator conduct

Includes making inappropriate conduct an offence, enhancing information sharing about prohibition notices, and expanding regulatory responses to educator conduct.

4. Working with children checks

Proposals seek to provide more nationally consistent approaches to WWCC requirements, including requiring valid checks before commencing roles and reporting changes in status.

5. Physical service environment safety

This includes proposals that would significantly impact Family Day Care services, such as:

6. Additional recommendations

Includes changes to how Regulatory Authorities identify and monitor related providers, extending limitation periods for proceedings, and improving information sharing with recruitment agencies.

FDCQ's response

FDCQ has formed a working party to review the proposals and prepare a comprehensive submission. However, to ensure our response truly represents the views of our members, we need your input.

Don’t delay, have your say

Your professional expertise and firsthand experience are invaluable to this process. We encourage all Family Day Care services and educators to:

  1. Visit the official consultation website: https://content.deloitte.com.au/ChildSafetyReview
  2. Review the 6 key topic areas and consider how proposed changes might affect your service
  3. Share your thoughts with FDCQ through our anonymous feedback form so your perspectives can be incorporated into our submission
  4. Complete the relevant survey on the CSR website:
    • Education and Care workforce survey (for educators)
    • Approved Providers, PMCs or nominated supervisors survey

Your feedback will help us develop a submission that accurately represents the Family Day Care sector and advocates for sensible regulation that enhances child safety while acknowledging the unique characteristics of Family Day Care environments.

Deadline reminder

FDCQ’s feedback form will close Friday, 30 May, to allow our Working Group enough time to collate all your feedback and ensure it is incorporated in our final submission.

All responses must be submitted by 11 June 2025. Don't miss this important opportunity to shape regulations that will affect your service.

For questions about the review or FDCQ's response, please contact mailto:enquires@fdcq.au.

Connections that count

FDCQ networking event brings Queensland FDC services together

In a vibrant display of sector solidarity, Family Day Care Queensland's face-to-face networking event brought together representatives from 11 FDC services across the state this week, reaffirming the vital importance of in-person connection in our increasingly digital world.

 

The event, held on Tuesday at our Brisbane headquarters, created a warm and collaborative space where providers could share challenges, celebrate successes, and foster the relationships that strengthen our sector.

Celebrating milestones

The gathering doubled as a celebration for Kath Dickson FDC's remarkable achievement of 50 years in the sector. Attendees were treated to a moving video presentation showcasing half a century of quality care and education, with powerful testimonials from families and educators alike.

 

"This video painted a wonderful picture of a supportive and encouraging provider, applauded by both educators and parents," noted Deb Tuckey, FDCQ's Acting CEO. "It was a powerful demonstration of the possible success all well-run, passionate, and quality-driven services can achieve."

A photograph of 5 women standing in a line. The centre two women hold a bunch of flowers and a certificate respectively.
Kath Dickson FDC service staff celebrating 50 years of service,    with FDCQ's Acting CEO, Deb Tuckey.

Meaningful discussions

The event facilitated honest conversations about the challenges facing Family Day Care in the current environment, with Deb emphasising that while "we are competitors in the market, we must hold each other up if we want to ensure sustainability."

 

Services shared innovative approaches to mentor programs, compliance management, and professional development that are making a difference in their operations.

Cultural connection

A highlight of the day was sharing the stories featured in FDCQ's recently commissioned artwork by local First Nations Artist Nathaniel Chapman. The striking piece visually represents our organisation's values and the profound impact Family Day Care has on communities throughout Queensland.

 

Yolande Pritchard, FDCQ's Office Manager, explained that the artwork emerged from the organisation's commitment to expanding their Reconciliation Action Plan and growing their story. The piece features symbols that represent the safety of women and children, the teaching and learning process, and the nurturing environments that are central to quality Family Day Care.

Looking forward

With National Family Day Care Week approaching (5 to 11 May), the event provided timely inspiration and connection. Participants overwhelmingly expressed interest in more face-to-face networking opportunities, to efficiently discuss selected sector topics of interest.

 

As FDCQ continues to support and advocate for the Family Day Care sector, events like this demonstrate that our greatest strength lies in our connections with each other. By sharing knowledge, celebrating successes, and addressing challenges together, we build a stronger foundation for the future of Family Day Care in Queensland.

 

For more information about upcoming networking events or to access resources discussed at the meeting, FDCQ members can visit the PLACE online community.

 

Look before you lock!

Queensland Government Refreshes Life-Saving "Look Before You Lock" Campaign

The Queensland Government has launched a revitalised "Look Before You Lock" campaign, reinforcing the critical message about child safety during transportation. This campaign serves as a vital reminder for all Family Day Care educators who transport children as part of their service.

With a fresh new look and expanded resources, the campaign emphasises that a simple routine check can save a child's life. The initiative reminds all education providers, including Family Day Care services, to "Check every time, never leave them behind."

Deputy Director-General of Early Childhood, Tania Porter, highlighted the importance of the campaign: "Services that transport children must be vigilant about protecting children in their care. This includes having a specific written transport policy and procedure to ensure no child is ever left unattended in a vehicle."

Family Day Care educators can access a range of newly developed resources, including a procedural video demonstrating safe transportation practices. The campaign also offers downloadable materials such as posters, social media tiles, and newsletter content that can be shared with families and communities.

These resources help FDC educators not only comply with regulatory requirements but also promote safety awareness among families who transport children in their personal vehicles.

The campaign will run across digital, social media and retail advertising until the end of June, targeting both education services and parents. FDC Queensland encourages all educators to access these materials at www.qld.gov.au/lookbeforeyoulock or from within the resources section of PLACE, and integrate the safety messages into their policies and communication with families.

FDC extension granted for Child Protection training requirements

The Queensland Early Childhood Education and Care Regulator has granted an extension for all Family Day Care services to complete the required Child Protection training to Wednesday, 30 April 2025.

This extension comes in response to the implementation challenges many services have faced in accessing timely training for staff.

Mr. Chris Carey, Director Compliance at the Early Childhood Regulatory Authority, has officially confirmed this extension. In his communication to FDCQ, he stated:

"I understand that there have been challenges for some providers in accessing the relevant training for staff in a timely way, and I am happy to grant an extension until 30 April 2025 to allow time for the training and assessment to be finalised.

I appreciate that implementation of the protocol is a significant development for the sector in Queensland, and authorised officers will be taking a reasonable approach to enforcement of this new requirement over the period of transition. This extension for FDCQ Member services will be communicated to all staff."

The extension comes in response to FDCQ's advocacy on behalf of member services facing ongoing implementation challenges. While the extension provides valuable additional time, FDC services are reminded of the following important compliance requirements in effect with the extension:

For comprehensive information about child protection requirements, including mandatory reporting, working with children checks, and supervision requirements, please visit the Queensland Government's Early Childhood website.

Leadership transition at Family Day Care Queensland

Family Day Care Queensland announces the resignation of our Chief Executive Officer, Jason De Bakker, after 6-years of dedicated service to our organisation and the home-based early childhood education and care sector.

Under Jason's transformative leadership, FDCQ has strengthened our sector's position and improved outcomes for educators, services, and families. We particularly acknowledge him for:

Deb Tuckey, our Relations and Sector Development Manager, has stepped into the role of Acting CEO, bringing 5-years of experience with FDCQ and strong stakeholder relationships.

"While we are saddened to see Jason leave, his legacy will continue to benefit our sector for years to come," says Dr. Fiona Margetts, FDCQ Board Chair. "We are confident in Deb's ability to lead our organisation while we begin the process of identifying our next CEO."

The Board remains committed to ensuring a smooth transition that maintains our momentum in supporting Queensland's home-based ECE sector.

We thank Jason for his dedicated service and wish him the very best in his future endeavours.

FDCQ sounds alarm on family day care crisis

As the federal election approaches, Family Day Care Queensland (FDCQ) has issued an urgent call to action as the federal election approaches, warning that without immediate funding intervention, 15,500 Queensland children could lose access to vital care services.

A position paper, Navigating the path to universal ECEC – the role of Family Day Care, released today, highlights the critical role family day care plays in Queensland's early childhood education sector and the severe challenges threatening its viability.

"We're facing a perfect storm of funding inequities, workforce shortages, and increasing demand," said Deb Tuckey, FDCQ's Acting Chief Executive Officer. "Families across Queensland, particularly those relying on flexible hours and after-hours care, could soon find themselves without options if action isn't taken."

The paper outlines 5 priority areas with 16 specific recommendations to ensure family day care is properly integrated into upcoming early childhood education and care reforms.

Funding parity with centre-based care is identified as one of the most critical factors contributing to workforce shortages. Despite growing waiting lists for family day care services, educators are leaving the sector due to unsustainable financial conditions.

FDCQ is calling on the incoming Australian Government to commit to immediate funding improvements and establish a dedicated advisory body including sector representatives to help design future reforms.

Why family day care matters

Family day care provides a unique and essential service within Queensland's childhood education and care sector:

"Universal access to childcare, as recommended by the Productivity Commission, will remain an unfulfilled promise without proper support for family day care," Ms Tuckey emphasised.

The Family Day Care Pledge

As part of its advocacy efforts, FDCQ has launched the "Family Day Care Pledge" campaign, asking all Queensland federal election candidates to formally recognise the sector's importance and commit to supporting its future.

The pledge highlights 5 key contributions of family day care to Queensland communities and families, while drawing attention to the specific needs of the sector.

FDCQ, which has represented the family day care and in-home care sectors in Queensland for more than 40 years, has expressed its willingness to work collaboratively with the incoming government to address these urgent challenges.

"The time for action is now," Ms Tuckey said. "The future of thousands of Queensland children and families depends on it."

For more information about FDCQ's federal election statement or to access the full paper, download the various documents from the following links:

 

Statement of Shared Commitment

Family Day Care Queensland, proud to champion "Every interaction counts"

We are thrilled to announce that Family Day Care Queensland (FDCQ) has played a key role in developing the new Statement of Shared Commitment for Queensland's early childhood education and care services.

Our Acting CEO, Deb Tuckey, represented FDCQ on the working party that crafted this important initiative, ensuring that the unique perspectives of our sector shaped this statewide commitment.

What is the Statement of Shared Commitment?

The Statement establishes a shared vision across all Queensland early childhood education and care settings: "Every interaction counts."
This simple but powerful phrase reminds us that each moment with a child is an opportunity to build safety, trust, and positive development.

Why this matters for Family Day Care

As the PEAK body representing Family Day Care Service Providers and their Educators and families, we've always understood the importance of nurturing relationships in home-based care environments. This Statement formally recognises what our educators practice daily — that meaningful interactions in a small-group setting create the foundation for children's wellbeing.

The Statement supports educators to:

Our commitment to you

Family Day Care Queensland is dedicated to supporting our members in implementing the Statement. Over the coming months and throughout 2025 and beyond, we'll be providing:

See it in action

We encourage every Family Day Care Queensland service in Queensland to proudly display the Statement of Shared Commitment. When you visit an FDC service, take a moment to read the Statement and speak with the service educator about how they're bringing "Every interaction counts" to life in their everyday practice.

We're proud that our organisation has contributed directly to this initiative that strengthens Queensland's commitment to children's safety and wellbeing.

For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/ECECcommitment or contact your local service coordinator.