The Sebastopol family day carer can have up to four children under school age and three school aged children in her care as a family day carer.

Through play and following the interests of the tots in her care, she challenges them to learn new skills 

The passion she shows toward her job has led to Ms Dreger being announced as a regional winner in the 2017 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards.

Ms Dreger, who is registered with Ballarat Family Day Care, is one of more than 21,000 family day care educators who care for and educate children from 120,680 families around the country.

Eleven lucky children are in Ms Dreger’s care for different periods each week and enjoy a range of different activities.

“I care for the children in a holistic sense, looking after their physical and emotional needs and their development,” she said. 

Ms Dreger previously worked in long day care centres but with up to 50 different children in her care during a regular week felt unable to get to know the children as well as she wanted.

She also had a dream to work from home and decided to take the plunge three years ago and become a family day care educator.

“I really enjoy it and I love getting down to the kids’ level and looking at the world through their innocent and joyful eyes,” she said.

Ms Dreger takes her children on excursions, many with a community focus such as buying Christmas presents, wrapping them and donating them to Christmas gift appeals, visiting the Ballarat Special School Farm to interact with the animals, and to local playgrounds.

They even paid a visit to Officeworks recently to allow two three-year-olds to watch a 15 page book they made about their recent holiday be printed and bound.

“I stimulate them and follow their interests to run a divergent cirriculum which uses their interest to enhance their learning, life and have fun.

”Every moment is a teachable moment,” she said.

Family Day Care Australia chief executive Andrew Paterson said the awards acknowledged the incredible work done by family day care educations every day and the amazing bonds between the educators and the children they work with.

“This is an opportunity to highlight the special contribution that educators like Melissa make to the lives of the children in their care,” Mr Paterson said.

“To be named regional winner is a testament to not only Melissa’s dedication to providing quality early childhood education and care, but also to the relationship that Melissa has with the children in her care.”