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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 & families and 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 holistic wellbeing and care at the service, highlighting any challenges faced and the ways in which the nominee works together with other staff members.
3. Which principles and practices from the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) or My Time Our Place (MTOP), and which standards or elements from the National Quality Standard (NQS), does this initiative align with?

Family’s Choice – Outstanding Educator & Team

This award is open to families to nominate an individual educator or educational team who demonstrates excellence in their direct work 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. Explain the way the nominee has delivered educational experiences, and/ or support and care to your child(ren) and family.
2. How does the nominee go 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. A description of the positive impact the nominee’s leadership has had on children’s education and care, and how their approach could be shared or implemented by others within your centre or organisation.

Excellence in Best Practice

This award recognises individuals and service providers that demonstrate excellence in curriculum, planning, innovation and sustainable practices, creating meaningful outcomes for children, families and communities.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. Shows 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.
4. Which principles and practices from the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) or My Time Our Place (MTOP) and which standards or elements from the National Quality Standard (NQS) does this initiative align with?

Service Excellence in Partnerships with Families, Communities and Schools  

This award recognises individuals and service providers who demonstrate excellence in building authentic, respectful and collaborative partnerships with families, communities and schools.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. Provide clear evidence of excellence in partnering with families, communities or schools, including specific examples that highlight the impact of these partnerships.
2. Describe how the partnership has positively impacted children and families, and how this positive change can be sustained in future years and across other rooms or centres?
3. Which principles and practices from the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) or My Time Our Place (MTOP), and which standards or elements from the National Quality Standard (NQS), does this initiative align with?

Excellence in Supporting Child Development

This award recognises individuals and service providers who 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.
3. Demonstrate nurturing interactions that promote trust, respect and support the holistic development of children.
4. Engaging and communicating with the children, families and/or community, establishing reciprocal relationships and advocating for the children in your care.
5. Which principles and practices from the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) or My Time Our Place (MTOP), and which standards or elements from the National Quality Standard (NQS) does this initiative align with?

Outstanding Commitment to Reconciliation and Cultural Responsiveness

This award recognises individuals and service providers that are showing commitment to their Reconciliation and Cultural Responsiveness.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. Detail specific actions, programs or initiatives undertaken by the nominee that actively promote reconciliation and/or 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 Play-based Pedagogy

This award recognises individuals and services that deliver outstanding play-based learning experiences, fostering children’s curiosity, creativity, agency, wellbeing, exploration and connection with nature.

Nominations must demonstrate and address the following criteria:

1. Describe how the nominee creates and delivers engaging, high-quality play-based learning experiences that support children’s learning, development and wellbeing.
2. Describe how the nominee fosters children’s curiosity, creativity, agency, problem-solving and exploration through play.
3. Show how the nominee provides opportunities for children to build meaningful connections with their environment, including nature-based experiences where appropriate.
4. Provide examples of the positive impact of the nominee’s play-based pedagogical practices on children’s confidence, resilience, wellbeing, relationships and learning outcomes.
5. Identify which principles and practices from the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) or My Time Our Place (MTOP) and which standards and elements from the National Quality Standard (NQS) are reflected in and supported by this approach.