Mrs Burr has just been named the 2017 Excellence in Family Day Care regional winner for Launceston and the North.

In 2012, she took out the overall state award.

There’s a little more competition this year as the awards have amalgamated Victoria and Tasmania into one category, so she “has a one in 17 chance” of winning.

Mrs Burr said she was “humbled” and grateful to the parents who had taken the time to nominate her for her hard work with their children.

Describing her job as “isolating, but rewarding”, Mrs Burr said she first opened her family day care at Prospect when she had her own twins.

Since then she has cared for more than 70 children through the years, watching them grow up and move on to school and beyond.

“I always had a passion to be a school teacher, so this is as close as I got. I just love it, it’s really all about the children,” she said.

Working every weekday from 8am to 5pm, Mrs Burr’s day care is part of Holistic Approach Family Day Care, giving her support during any challenges but also a framework of positive open communication with families.

Day care goes beyond just keeping children busy each day, she said – it’s a key part of childhood education and growth, learning how to interact with other people, and involving the children in positive projects such as collecting food tins for Launceston Feeding the Homeless.

Over the years Mrs Burr said she had seen several changes to the family day care sector.

“Foundation-wise, working with the children hasn’t changed, but the regulation – yes, definitely. We’ve really upped the ante in terms of training and we’ve made the community see us as professionals,” she said.

Mrs Burr said child care could be an isolating job, but was deeply rewarding watching children grow, while developing strong relationships with parents and families.

Finalists will be announced in late September, and the winners in October.