Nominate now

Outstanding Early Childhood Educator

This award is open to individuals employed as educators who work in a direct role with children and families.

This award celebrates the exceptional work that educators do for children and families the essential role they play.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. Explain how the nominee has gone above and beyond their typical responsibilities to deliver high-quality educational programs and pedagogy for young children, incorporating the voices of both the children and their families.
2. Detail the nominee’s contributions to improving the quality of children’s education and care at the service, highlighting any challenges faced and the ways in which the nominee works together with other staff members.

Family’s Choice – Outstanding Educator

This award is open to families to nominate an individual who works as an educator in a direct role with children and families. This award celebrates the exceptional work that educators do for children and families and the essential role they play.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. A description of the way the nominee has delivered educational experiences, support and care to your child(ren) and family.
2. How do you feel the nominee went above and beyond the everyday education & care of your child(ren) and family?

Excellence in ECEC Leadership

This award is open to individuals who demonstrated excellence in leadership.

This award celebrates the outstanding leadership that these individuals have shown in the Education & Care Sector.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. Exhibits exceptional communication skills and fosters a collaborative environment where effective teamwork thrives. This includes transparent communication with staff, families, and other stakeholders, creating a shared vision and promoting a sense of unity and cooperation.
2. An explanation of the positive impact or benefits that the improvements have had on the children’s education and care and how this approach could be shared with others in your centre or organisation.

Excellence in Best Practice

This award recognises individuals and service providers that promote a culture of innovation and/or have demonstrated exceptional sustainable practice.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. Evidence supporting excellence in best practices that positively impacts children, demonstrating creative and effective solutions to enhance their learning experiences and showcasing excellence in creating an educational, caring and equitable environment.
2. Engaging and communicating with the children/families and/or community, establishing reciprocal relationships and advocating for the Children in your care.
3. Demonstrate excellent practice in the reflective planning cycle including observation, documentation and assessment for Children’s Learning and Development.

Service excellence in partnerships with families, communities and schools

This award recognises individuals and service providers who excel in partnerships with families, communities or schools.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. How does the nomination provide evidence of excellence in partnering with families, communities or schools? Please provide specific examples.
2. What is the evidence to support this partnership has impacted positive change for children and families and how can this be sustained in for future years and for other rooms/centres?

Excellence in Supporting Child Development

This award recognises individuals and service providers that show excellence in supporting and maintaining the development of children.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. Detail the specific actions, programs or initiatives implemented by the nominee that have profoundly contributed to the comprehensive development of children.
2. Highlight any innovative methods, strategies or practices the nominee has employed to support a certain child, children in a room or centre in child development.

Outstanding commitment to reconciliation and cultural responsiveness

This award recognises individuals and service providers that are showing commitment to their Reconciliation or Reconciliation Action Plan.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. Detail specific actions, programs or initiatives undertaken by the nominee that actively promote reconciliation and foster positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
2. Describe how the nominee has demonstrated cultural responsiveness in their work, ensuring inclusivity and respect for indigenous cultures, traditions and perspectives.

Excellence in Outdoor Learning

This award recognises individuals and service providers that demonstrate excellence in the implementation of outdoor learning programs.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. The nomination should highlight how the individual or service provider has designed and implemented outdoor learning programs that are innovative, engaging and effective.
2. The nomination should provide evidence of the long-term impact and sustainability of the outdoor learning programs.
3. Provide evidence of how children engage in creative expression, problem-solving, investigation and exploration through outdoor play-based learning, while fostering awareness and stewardship of their surroundings.