Born in Three Springs, north of Perth, Alicia grew up in a small northern town as well as spending some time in Esperance.

In 2000, she and her family moved to Donnybrook.

“We came at the end of winter – it was cold and very green – everything was always dead up there,” Alicia said.

“It was very different, and Donnybrook was bigger, too.

“We didn’t know anybody except for my uncle who lived here.”

Alicia went to the local high school for six months before transferring to Bunbury Senior High School and then went onto TAFE.

“I studied Certificate III in Children’s Services,” she said.

“When I did it we had to go to TAFE, but now it’s all done by correspondence.”

The following year Alicia completed her Diploma of Community Services (Children’s Services).

“While I was studying I worked here as a casual caregiver,” she said.

“When I finished my diploma, I started working here as a qualified caregiver – that was in 2003.”

In her five years as a qualified caregiver, Alicia said she had seen plenty of staff come and go.

She has also watched many local children grow up.

“Some of the kids that were babies now have baby brothers and sisters,” she said.

A day in the life of Alicia at the childcare centre is a busy process.

“You come in in the morning, set up the rooms, make the beds, prepare morning tea, welcome all the parents and children that come in, find out how they’ve been or if they’ve got any medication and settle any children that are upset or that don’t want to separate from their parents,” she said.

“While we’re doing that the children play with toys on the shelf or have stories.”

A change of nappies is followed by a mat session, involving songs, language or music.

“Then we have morning tea and get ready to go outside,” Alicia said.

“The children then have free play outside, but we also have programmed activities.”

After another nappy change the children go inside for another mat session before lunch.