The family day care educator was recently named the local winner in the Family Day Care Australia Educator of the Year Awards.

Ms Xuereb said she did not expect to win the award and was “really shocked” when she heard she won it.

“It makes me feel my jobs pays off at the end of the day,” she said.

The parents of the children nominated her, she said, because they were happy with the service she provided.

Family Day Care Australia chief executive officer Carla Northam praised Ms Xuereb for her incredible service to the community.

“To be named the local winner is recognition of Pauline’s dedication to providing quality early childhood education, but also to the wonderful and unique relationship between educators like Pauline and the children in their care,” she said.

“There is no greater responsibility than to be entrusted with the care and education of a young child.”

Ms Xuereb shared her passion for working with children with the Daily Liberal.

She said she remembers her mother staying at home when she was young and she had lots of fun.

The love and care of her mother while she was a little girl stayed with her and when she became a mum she also stayed with her children.

“Childcare is a matter of affordability for parents,” she said.

“If you can’t send your children to childcare don’t feel bad. You get to spend time with your kids.”

Ms Xuereb said she found volunteering at her son’s school an “eye-opener” to a possible career with children.

Watching the children grow was her favourite part of the job, she said.

Some children were shy and did not want to come but when they finished day care they did not want to leave, she said.

Ms Xuereb said she enjoyed the funny moments with the children and each child had a story to share.

“One kid at the moment when he gets tired rubs my hair into his nose,” she said, laughing.

There was more to her job than looking after children, she said.

A 16-year-old girl who went to compete in baton twirling in the United States and Ireland was one of the children she cared for when she was young.

“I’m really proud of her achievements and I still keep in contact with her,” she said.

Ms Xuereb said in her 18 years of being an educator she has learnt a lot and found her career rewarding.

The secret to a successful career as an educator she said was “lots of love, patience, care and trust of the parents”.