Educator Login

Menu
Facebook-f Instagram

About Us

Who We Are

At NextGen Family Day Care, we believe that educators deserve more than oversight—they deserve a partner who listens, understands, and uplifts. Since our inception, we have been dedicated to transforming family day care in Victoria and beyond by putting educators first.

Our mission is simple: to empower educators with the tools, guidance, and confidence they need to deliver exceptional care while running thriving, compliant home-based businesses.

With every interaction, we strive to embody our core values of support, transparency, quality, empathy, and innovation. These principles drive everything we do, ensuring that our educators feel valued and empowered to focus on what matters most: providing excellent care for children.

Our Philosophy

The NextGen Family Day Care philosophy guides our interactions with educators. children, families and the community. 

At NextGen Family Day Care we believe every child has the potential to develop, grow and succeed in their early learning journey. We desire every child to feel safe, secure, protected and supported and treat them with the utmost care and respect and know we as a service and educators have a lot to learn from their early learning journey. Offering thoughtfully set out environments to allow children to extend their own learning supports their agency and take their play in the direction of their choice which can only lead to better outcomes. 

We foster all children’s right to learn and grow through play and believe children learn through their interactions, relationships and experiences with others and the environment.  Children have the right to choice, freedom of belief and are capable and confident learners.  We encourage, support and nurture the whole child to focus on their identity and make connection with their community, personal wellbeing and to become confident, effective learners and communicators. 

NextGen Family Day Care facilitates partnerships with families and think these are fundamental for developing and delivering the best educational outcomes. 

NextGen Family Day Care educators and management are guided by the National Quality Standards, Child Safe Standards and the Code of Ethics in all of our practices, interactions and relationships. We respect the diversity, skills and strengths that each person brings to our service and we are able to challenge and learn from each other, work in collaboration, as well as reflect on our practices to ensure we are always striving for continual quality improvement and the highest possible outcomes for children and their families.

Meet Our Team

Five women are posing together on a porch in front of a light-colored house. Four stand and one sits on a chair, all smiling and dressed in casual, patterned clothing. There is a potted plant and a door to the left.
A woman with wavy brown hair sits on a white metal bench outside. She wears a white top and a long, navy and white leaf-patterned skirt, and tan sandals. There is a potted plant next to her and light gray siding behind.

Rebecca Woods

DIRECTOR, COORDINATOR, EDUCATIONAL LEADER

Bec is the Director and Founder of NextGen Family Day Care, based in the small country town of Cobram, Victoria. Alongside her husband and three children, she has built a life dedicated to the early childhood sector, with over 24 years of experience.

Bec’s journey began with a traineeship in long day care, which eventually led her to a role as a kinder assistant. After spending some time in Melbourne as a private nanny, she was able to further hone her skills and deepen her passion for early childhood care. However, it’s in Family Day Care where Bec has truly found her calling. With 13 years of experience in this sector, she has worked as both an educator and a coordinator, gaining invaluable insights into the unique needs of both children and educators.

Family Day Care is more than just a career for Bec; it is her true passion. Her mission is clear: to empower educators to provide high-quality education and care to families and communities while offering unparalleled support to those who make it all possible.

Behind the scenes, Bec works diligently to manage and implement regulations, service policies, government compliance, and the National Quality Framework, ensuring the highest standards are met. As the Nominated Supervisor, Bec is the person in charge of the day-to-day operations of the service.

Bec is supported by a dedicated team, including Kathy, our Coordinator; Amie, our Coordinator and Administration Manager; and Kim, our Accounts Manager, all of whom play vital roles in ensuring the smooth running of NextGen Family Day Care.

A woman with blonde hair, wearing a mauve blouse and black pants, stands smiling beside a white metal chair in front of a cream-colored wooden wall.

Kathy Bourke

Coordinator

With over 34 years of experience in early childhood education, Kathy Bourke has dedicated her career to supporting children from birth through to school age. She has worked closely with families in various capacities, from assisting mothers during childbirth to educating young children across all areas of early learning.

Kathy has also led teams of passionate educators while managing childcare services, creating environments where both children and educators can flourish. Based in the beautiful town of Cobram, she remains deeply committed to shaping positive learning experiences and helping children reach their full potential.

A woman with wavy blonde hair wearing a navy blue dress with colorful polka dots stands outdoors in front of a tree, smiling on a sunny day.

Kim Clarke

Accounts Manager

Kim brings a wealth of experience in business, finance, and administration, with a career spanning over 16 years in the banking sector. Holding a Bachelor of Business from La Trobe University, she has worked with major financial institutions, including CBA, Westpac, and Bendigo Bank, specialising in business lending and investment.

After leaving the banking industry, Kim relocated to the regional town of Cobram, where she embraced new opportunities that allowed her to balance family life while pursuing her passion for community engagement. She has since taken on various accounts and administrative roles while actively volunteering with local organisations. Her contributions include financial management, grant applications, event coordination, and supporting community-driven initiatives.

With a strong background in finance and a commitment to community development, Kim is dedicated to making a meaningful impact both professionally and within her local area.

A woman with short auburn hair wearing a dark green dress with white floral patterns stands smiling beside a white chair in front of a light-colored wall.

Amie Foster

Administration Manager/ Coordinator

With over 25 years of experience in the early childhood sector, Amie Foster has dedicated her career to supporting children and their families across a variety of settings. From working in a gym crèche to community kindergartens, she has embraced diverse roles that have allowed her to nurture and guide young minds. One of her most rewarding experiences was as an educator in a childcare center, where she had the privilege of witnessing children grow from infancy through to kindergarten—often caring for multiple siblings from the same family. Being part of a child’s journey during these foundational years is something she deeply cherishes.

Outside of her professional life, Amie is a devoted wife and mother to two wonderful children—a teenage daughter who keeps life interesting and a lively tween son who never fails to bring laughter into their home. Their energetic dog, Daisy, is the heart of the family, always providing love and connection through her endless cuddles.

At NextGen, Amie plays a pivotal role in administration, ensuring that families and educators experience a seamless and supportive childcare journey. She looks forward to getting to know each educator and family and being a part of their childcare experience, offering guidance, support, and a warm welcome to the NextGen community

A woman with light skin and brown hair, wearing a purple blouse and dark jeans, sits and smiles on a white ornate metal bench next to a white planter with green leaves, against a light-colored wall.

Naurelle Palmer

Advisor/ Trainer

Naurelle is a qualified Early Childhood Teacher with nearly 20 years of experience in the early childhood education sector. She has worked across diverse settings, including Family Day Care, Long Day Care, Occasional Care, and Kindergarten, developing a deep understanding of the needs of children and families.

Over the course of her career, Naurelle has held a variety of roles, from educator to coordinator and second-in-charge (2IC), giving her extensive knowledge of both the educational and operational aspects of early childhood services. She is passionate about creating nurturing, play-based learning environments that foster children’s curiosity, confidence, and sense of belonging.

A woman with long dark hair and glasses stands in front of white curtains, wearing a black blazer, black top, and black pants with a belt. She is smiling and has one hand resting by her side.

Courtney Tully

Digital Marketing & Social Media Manager

Meet Courtney, the person behind NextGen’s Digital Marketing and Social Media. Here’s a little about me.. 

My partner Kyle and I were overjoyed to welcome our beautiful daughter, Tully Sage, into the world through the incredible journey of IVF in 2023. Becoming a parent to Tully was the inspiration behind starting my own family daycare a heartfelt decision rooted in love, purpose, and delight.

In our downtime, Kyle and I love making memories with our little one, Tully Sage, our playful pup Poppy, and our two sweet cats, Tilly and Milly. We’re always up for an adventure, whether it’s a day at the beach, a scenic walk, or discovering a new place to explore. We just love being out in nature whenever we can. 

At the end of the day, it’s all about family, friends, and soaking up the little moments that matter to us most. 

I’m a hardworking, bubbly, and caring person who absolutely adores working with children. I’m passionate about creating safe, engaging, and nurturing environments where little ones can explore, learn, and flourish. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working in a variety of childcare settings from long day care centres to before and after school programs, as well as holiday care. These experiences allowed me to grow into leadership roles such as room leader, educator, and coordinator.

As this new adventure begins, I’m thrilled to now be a part of the NextGen Family DayCare team as the Digital Marketing and Social Media Manager, a role that combines my passion for creativity, connection, and community. In this position, I’m excited to help share the incredible stories, values, and heart behind what we do, while also building a strong and supportive online presence for families and educators. I look forward to bringing fresh ideas, engaging content, and a warm, welcoming tone to our digital platforms, helping to grow our community and celebrate the magic of early childhood every step of the way.

Join Our Community

When you choose NextGen Family Day Care, you’re not just joining a scheme – you’re becoming part of a community that cares deeply about your success. Whether you’re looking for guidance, a network of supportive professionals, or peace of mind in navigating compliance, NextGen is here to help you thrive.

Contact Us
Facebook-f Instagram