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. 

Download the Press Release