Lakelands childcare team wins regional award after second nomination
Kelvin and Jess Ware won the Excellence in Family Day Care Award for the Mandurah and Peel region, their second consecutive nomination.
The husband-and-wife team at Ware Bears Family Day Care in Lakelands, Western Australia, picked up a regional award for quality early childhood education. The couple built their service to create a home-away-from-home where children feel safe and loved.
Ware Bears' approach includes offering both male and female role models. The service also uses the natural surroundings of Lakelands for learning.
The award came from more than 4,000 nominations across the 2026 Excellence in Family Day Care Awards. Kelvin and Jess have more than 40 years of combined childcare experience.
They started their business about three years ago. Some families travel up to 30 minutes to use their service.
The service offers early learning for younger children. It also provides before-school and after-school care for ages six to 12.
- Kelvin and Jess over 40 years
- Combined childcare experience
- About 3 years
- Business age
- Over 4,000
- Nominations for 2026 awards
- 30 minutes
- Maximum family travel distance
Why it mattersRecognition shows what quality family day care looks like and gives families a model for what to seek in their own community.
AustraliaThe award highlights a local WA childcare option and reflects the growing importance of quality early education as families juggle work and parenting.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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