Rupa Sivalingam’s work in childhood education began after a dramatic career change, switching her heels and suits as an accountant for bright dresses and picture books. Now she’s won an award, reports ELIZABETH KOVACS.

After watching her son struggle to fit in at oversized childcare centres, Rupa Sivalingam decided enough was enough. She started her own.

Formerly working for an accounting firm, Rupa operates out of her Garran home and has been offering family daycare services for more than three years, ensuring other children don’t endure the same experience. 

“It’s been inspiring to witness children achieve different milestones, be it a child practising to colour within the lines, solve a crossword puzzle or even learn to eat all by themselves,” says the winner of the 2024 Regional Educator Award for Canberra. 

“As an educator, I try to make it very simple by sitting down and having fun with them and learning something new every day.”

Rupa’s work in childhood education began after a dramatic career change, switching her heels and suits as an accountant for bright dresses and picture books. 

“I’m so proud that I made the choice,” she says.

“It’s been fulfilling in more ways than I can say.

“The transition wasn’t easy. I was used to a desk job, and suddenly I was [there] standing on my feet all day long.”

Rupa was nominated by parents for the Canberra 2024 Regional Educator Award. 

“It was even more special because it was announced on my son’s 10th birthday.

“Being able to do the job that I love while also getting to look after my own children has been very, very fulfilling and rewarding.

“It’s nice to be appreciated.”

However, raising awareness on the benefits of family daycare is more important to Rupa than recognition. 

“I want to be involved in actively promoting family daycare and tell [aspiring educators] that it’s highly rewarding if they put the time and effort into it,” she says.

“It’s about creating a home away from home for the children who are our future generation.

“They really deserve it.”

Rupa finds that working with a limited number of children allows her to fully immerse herself in their worlds. 

“I think the most important skill that they’re learning is to appreciate their true identity,” she says. 

“I often think children are always getting compared to each other.

“You need to appreciate their uniqueness as well as treat them as an individual, which I don’t think is often done.”

Family day care operates under strict rules, with a limitation of four children who are under the age of five and three who are school-aged. 

Rupa says this allows her to dedicate more time to the children. 

“As educators, we need to create a genuine bond with them. So I sit down and try to find out their unique interests and personalities. That’s when you create activities that are fun and engaging for them,” she says. 

Four of her current children are soon entering kindergarten. 

“It breaks my heart, but it also makes me feel proud that these are the connections that I’ve made.”

Although Rupa would love to help more children, she says she is wary about moving to childcare. 

“I don’t want to make it commercial, like a childcare centre,” she says. 

“Because that would take away from the one-on-one time that I have with [the children].

“That’s the beauty of a small group, you create a strong bond with them.” 

Rupa credits her current standing to her supportive family.

“[My husband and I] failed to find the right childcare for [their son], he just couldn’t fit in a bigger environment. 

“So I did it myself and he would tell me that ‘you’re the best mum in the world, and I want to stay with you forever’.

“That changed my attitude towards my career and made me realise that ‘no, this is what I want to do’.”

Her children, now 10 and six, have grown up alongside the children she works with, which Rupa says has felt like a big family. 

“They call me aunty, and my children are like siblings to them.”