Goodstart Early Learning announces 2020 National Award winners – The Goodies

Goodstart Early Learning has revealed the winners of the 2020 National Goodies Awards, which recognise exceptional talent and achievements across the 671 strong network of services.

Goodstart CEO Julia Davison said that the competition was fierce across the network and the standard of nominations was ‘extraordinarily high’ in every category.

“The Goodies are about recognising the brilliance, compassion, determination and innovation of our people,” Ms Davison said. 

Goodstart Riverside Gardens, located in Western Australia, were recognised for going ‘above and beyond’ during the COVID-19 peak, supporting especially those families who did not have relatives in Australia to help provide care. 

Goodstart Tuggerah, in New South Wales, received the Community Support Award following their efforts during the bushfires and floods earlier this year, with children at the service raising money for koalas injured in the bushfires while educators and families banded together to support other early learning services and a local school with essential supplies. 

During the floods the team provided support to families cut off from their homes without food and water and offered the use of the centre washing machine to those who needed it.

The Reconciliation Award which recognises the steps centres have taken to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in everyday practice went to Goodstart Broadmeadow in NSW, acknowledging the “determined and unwavering commitment to reconciliation” which is inclusive of children, families and the local Aboriginal community.

“The centre’s reconciliation initiatives embrace the whole community and provide opportunities for two- way learning. The centre has created a workplace which is culturally aware and is a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a sense of belonging and connection and want to work there,” a Goodstart spokesperson said. 

The CEO’s Goodstarter of the Year Centre Award went to Parminder Kaur Devgan, from Goodstart Clayton in Victoria, recognised for the professionalism and warmth she brings to her role, and for her generous support of other educators as a mentor and guide. 

At a support office level, National SafeWork and Wellbeing manager Kylie Warren Wright won the CEO’s Goodstarter of the Year Award for leading the organisation’s health and safety response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kylie was an unflagging source of timely and helpful information to ensure we all had the advice and guidance we needed,” Ms Davison said. “She made sure Goodstart was the safest possible place for children, families and our people.”

The Goodstart@Home Team received the CEO’s Goodstarter of the Year Team Award for delivering an online learning platform that families could access from home during the pandemic. Ms Davison said the team achieved in weeks what was thought would take years and delivered a high- quality resource that allowed Goodstart to wrap around children and families when they needed it most.

To date, more than 27,000 families have engaged with the Goodstart@Home learning platform.

Other winners included;  

• Goodstart Lavington, who won Amplifying our Impact alongside Goodstart Cheltenham (Victoria); 
• Goodstart Narre Warren Pound Rd North for Innovation (centre); 
• Professional Practice team (Vic/Tas) for Innovation (CSO) 
• Leadership in Adversity – Melissa Griffiths, Goodstart Blakeview
• Making a Difference – Goodstart Corowa

Further information about the work of Goodstart Early Learning is available on their website, here.