Returning to Donnybrook from the North West, the first thing that hit Rebecca and her family was the temperature.

When she left Tom Price it was still 35 degrees and her children were swimming in the backyard pool on the morning they left. So arriving to a chilly autumn in Donnybrook was an understandable shock for the whole family.

Rebecca, however, is comfortable in her new role. She has worked in the childcare industry all her life-both as a carer and a trainer.

She believes she works in an industry where there will always be work available and is encouraging anyone leaving school or considering a career change to consider childcare.

There has been a lot of publicity over the past couple of years about both the rise in the number of children in day-care, as well as arguments over the benefits or risks of child care. Rebecca believes that, with the current economic situation, many families need both parents at work in order to pay the bills.

She also points out that many families no longer have a support network of grandparents to help with childcare.

“You either pay the bills or you live on sausages for five nights out of six,” Rebecca said

She disagrees with those who claim that being in care all day from a young age damages the child emotionally or mentally.

Instead, she argues, it can teach vital skills like socialisation was well as allowing children to understand that while mum or dad may leave them for a period they always come back.

Being a child carer is more than just being a glorified nanny.

After leaving school in Donnybrook, Rebecca moved to Perth to study childcare at Midland TAFE. At that time it was the only centre to teach childcare.

After TAFE she worked in Perth for a year before heading to the Goldfields when her partner got a job in mining. Later the family moved to Tom Price where Rebecca co-ordinated the local child care centre before moving into a child care teaching role at the Pilbara TAFE.

As part of her lecturer work she travelled a circuit, covering Tom Price, Newman, Paraburdoo and Pannawonica.

“It was a good move, but a ‘long way from family’ move,” Rebecca said.

The family has returned to Donnybrook because Rebecca said they wanted a change of scene and greater opportunities for their children.

The job as co-ordinator of the Treehouse Childcare Centre became available at the right time.

Rebecca said the fact that all staff at the centre had worked there for a long time, and that there was a waiting list of parents wanting places, indicated to her that the centre offers good quality service.

Her partner will continue working in the mining industry, flying in and out of Busselton.