Busy Bees hosts inaugural National Conference and Excellence Awards

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider Busy Bees hosted its inaugural in-person national conference and Excellence Awards for service managers and national support centre staff at the Pullman Brisbane King George Square late last month. 

With the broad theme of Belonging the event presented an opportunity for many in the network to meet face to face for the first time to collaborate and share ideas. 

Keynote speakers included Michael Crossland and Toni Powell, with a Welcome to Country provided by Shannon Ruska. Waveney Yasso delivered an Acknowledgement of Country, with both speakers sharing meaningful stories and energy with participants. 

Michelle Rushton and Shaun Kenny, in their capacity as conference hosts, led robust discussion around the customer journey and the tour experience for families before hosting a “Helping Hands” session where teams built prosthetic hands to donate to amputee landmine victims.

Excellence Awards begins with a bang 

Friday evening’s awards session began with a surprise “Pub Choir” experience where vocal artists Astrid Jorgensen and Waveney Yasso formed a 200 voice choir to sing Kesha’s This is Me before the presentation of the 11 Excellence Awards.

The 2021 Excellence Award Winners were as follows: 

• Coles Sustainability Award: Busy Bees at Cannington

• Coles Chef of the Year: Deanna Croton from Busy Bees at Bellmere

• Jani-King Outstanding Support to Service Award: Ryann Boxsell, Enrolment Team Consultant, National Support Centre

• DLA Piper National Support Centre Rising Star: Darren Cooke, Enrolment Team Leader, National Support Centre

• DLA Piper National Support Centre Employee of the Year: Johandrie Oosthuizen, Business Operations Analyst, National Support Centre

• Brand Ambassador of the Year: Busy Bees at Ashdale

• Family Choice Award: Busy Bees at Quinns Beach

• Jani-King In-Service Rising Star: Brianna Holston from Busy Bees at Fraser Coast

• Educator of the Year: Melanie Afford from Busy Bees at Kilburn

• Area Manager of the Year: Steven Watts, National Support Centre

• Service Manager of the Year: Ashleigh Thomas from Busy Bees at Killarney Heights

Busy Bees Australia CEO Robert Hughes said the company was thrilled with the success of its first in-person national Conference and Excellence Awards and the opportunities employees had to “meet, learn, share and fill their cup with friendships, ideas and passion.” 

To learn more about Busy Bees Australia please see here.