Yet there are still positive stories out there, stories of educators who approach their work with passion and dedication, turning a noble and delicate profession into a lifelong mission.
Angela Mammone is one such person. Born to Calabrian parents and the eldest of five siblings, she naturally took on a leadership role in her family from a young age. Raised in the warmth of Italian culture, especially that of her parents’ native region, Mammone grew up surrounded by the laughter and energy of children. Her mother, Elisabetta, often offered babysitting services at home, further immersing the young Angela in a child-focused environment.
After finishing school, Mammone worked as a seamstress for a children’s clothing company for twenty years. She later switched careers, working in the kitchens of the Melbourne Mint. Although the pay was good, the workload significantly decreased after two years.
Encouraged by her sister and inspired by her mother’s career, Mammone decided to start her own Family Day Care service. She hoped this would allow her to balance full-time work with raising her three young children. “It was June 10, 2000. I was 36, and my youngest son had just turned three,” Mammone recalls, “I still remember that on the first day, I made pizza for all the children because one of them was celebrating a birthday. Before then, juggling work and family life had been a struggle. My two older kids were already in school, and working from home made everything easier. Plus, it gave my youngest the chance to play with kids his age.”
Family Day Care centres are still relatively unknown to many, Mammone says. Introduced quietly in the early 2000s and originally managed by local councils, Mammone’s service was the very first in the Merri-bek (formerly Moreland) area. Run by a single educator from their private home, the space must legally comply with safety and regulatory standards and cater to children from infancy through primary school age. “When I started, I had to be registered with the council, and every member of my household had to undergo background checks and provide a valid Working with Children Check,” she explains, “We also made sure every room in our home was safe and accessible. A council representative visited monthly to ensure everything was up to standard.”
Last month, Mammone celebrated the 25th anniversary of her Family Day Care. Reflecting on her long and fulfilling journey, she recalls those early years as some of the most demanding. “I had many children with special needs, and it wasn’t always easy to meet everyone’s expectations while raising my own young family,” she reveals, “My days started at 6 a.m., sometimes even 5:30. I used to drive a seven-seater minivan, and each child would get in and out of that van an average of 17 times a day, especially since there were no before or after-school care programs back then.” To this day, many of the children she’s cared for still call her nonna.
When the trusty minivan finally broke down, Mammone took it as a sign to slow down and simplify her services.
“Today, I care for four preschoolers, and during school holidays, I welcome up to seven children, often siblings. They all feel at home here. Many of them have grown up under my care; some started when they were just a few months old.”
With this more relaxed routine, Mammone has created a calm and flexible environment where children can go about their day at their own pace, without being forced to nap or eat at set times.
“When I first started, no formal qualification was required to open a Family Day Care,” she recalls, “But I chose to complete the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education. As part of the course, I did a two-week placement in a childcare centre. Even though there were three educators per class, one was always tied up with paperwork, and staff turnover meant the children constantly had to adjust to new faces.”
In Family Day Care, by contrast, the educator remains the same, which is especially important for infants. Mammone also places great emphasis on Italian language and culture. Songs, rhymes and vocabulary are offered in both English and Italian. “At one point, I cared for several children from Pakistani families. I even learned key words in their language and recorded myself to get the pronunciation right.”
In recent years, Mammone has been collaborating with another educator, Dina Hameed, who is registered, like Mammone, with Foundations Family Day Care. Together, they run weekly playgroups that incorporate Aboriginal perspectives and culture into the program. These sessions include various activities that engage with Indigenous culture.
“Multicultural inclusion, respect and harmony are the foundation of my care,” Mammone says with pride. “Every family, child, educator and Foundations Family Day Care has helped shape the educator I am today. I am deeply grateful to each and every one.”
