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Affinity Education Group names winners of 2022 Affinity Awards

Freya Lucas

Dec 16, 2022

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Early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider Affinity Education Group has announced the winners of the 2022 Affinity Awards which recognise the 13 teams and 20 individuals who stood out throughout the year.

CEO Tim Hickey congratulated all the nominees and winners, saying his ‘personal favourite’ awards include the Affinity Values Awards and CEO’s Choice.

“Affinity’s growth and success as Australia’s fastest growing and most progressive provider of early education and care is largely due to the fact that we are a values-led organisation, and at the heart of every award winner is their connection to our values,” Mr Hickey said.

Values based Awards

Affinity’s values, each of which is connected to an Award, are:

Being Completely Connected,
Delivering Outstanding Professionalism,
Going Above and Beyond,
Creating Shining Stars,
Living The Team Spirit and
Having Serious Fun

Helen Moors and the team at Milestones Early Learning Smithfield, Queensland secured the award for “Going Above and Beyond” while Maria Usedo and the team at School Mates OSHC, Western Australia were noted for “Living the Team Spirit.”

Erin Bonehill and the team at Milestones Early Learning Werribee in Victoria were awarded for “Having Serious Fun”, and Letiha Loveday and the team at Milestones Early Learning Lakes Entrance, VIC were noted for “Being Completely Connected.”

In the “Delivering Outstanding Professionalism” space Sarah Jovani and the team at Milestones Early Learning Lisarow, NSW took out the top spot, with Samantha Rushworth and the team at Kids Academy Regentville, NSW being noted for “Creating Shining Stars.”

Along with the values based Awards, a CEO’s Choice award is given annually to recognise “an absolutely outstanding individual” within the Affinity community who fully embodies all Affinity values, along with excellence in their role.

"My 2022 Affinity CEO’s Choice award was given to Tori Robinson, State Manager for NSW / ACT, who joined Affinity in 2017 after we acquired the centre she was working for in Pitt Town NSW,” Mr Hickey said.

“Since then, Tori has realised her potential with Affinity in roles which include Centre Manager, Area Manager and now State Manager. In 2022 Tori has not only delivered an unbelievable performance, but has stepped up as a leader and broadened her thinking. She also allows the Shining Stars underneath her to really come through and develop. You’ve set the standard Tori, well done.”

Centre based Awards

Centre based Awards in the program acknowledge outstanding performance in education, safety, quality and business performance. Winners in this space are as follows:

Excellence in Education

Yasmin Haddad and the team at Papilio Early Learning South Strathfield, NSW

Excellence in Safety

Samantha Martin and the team at Kids Academy Erina Heights, NSW

Most Improved Quality

Bianca Farrar and the team at Papilio Early Learning Bella Vista, NSW

Excellence in Quality

Jennifer Thompson and the team at Milestones Early Learning Capalaba, QLD

Excellence in Customer Service

Leanne Stewart and the team at Milestones Early Learning Dalby, QLD

Excellence in Business Performance

Keyten Gardner and the team at Milestones Early Learning Blair Athol, NSW

Excellence in Occupancy

Samantha Martin and the team at Kids Academy Erina Heights, NSW

Individual Awards

Each centre based role within the Affinity Education Group is recognised with an opportunity to win an award, including early childhood teachers, trainees, educational leaders, lead educators, and educators.

Among the individual winners was Trainee Madison Newham-Ellis from Papilio Early Learning Hunters Hill, who has recently embarked on her career in early education with the support from the Affinity Learning Academy.

“I feel really supported in my role as a trainee, and Affinity has made it easy for me to get a great start in my career,” Ms Newham-Ellis said.

Individual Award winners were:

Best Early Childhood Teacher

Anjalina Devi from Papilio Early Learning Bruce, ACT

Best Educational Leader

Amy (Lingyun) Xu from Papilio Early Learning Epping, NSW

Centre Manager recognition

Five Affinity Certified Centre Managers were awarded the ‘State Manager’s Choice’ around Australia, recognising their commitment, performance and representation of Affinity’s values.

Victoria

Holly Nelson from Aussie Kindies Kyabram, VIC

New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory

Shikha Mishra from Papilio Early Learning Bruce, ACT

Queensland

Danielle Grundy from Milestones Early Learning Peregian Springs, QLD

Western Australia

Nadine Byrne from Milestones Early Learning Centre West Kinross, WA

Northern Territory

Linda Sanders from Milestones Early Learning Wagaman, NT As well as the State Managers Choice category, Centre Managers and Assistant Centre Managers were also eligible for additional recognition.

Queensland’s Kellie Burton from Milestones Early Learning Meadowbrook was recognised as the Best Centre Manager nationally after a year of support for her own centre and sister centres in the Brisbane region.

Other winners included:

Runner Up Best Assistant Centre Manager

Navpreet Kaur from Papilio Early Learning Yarralumla, ACT

Best Assistant Centre Manager

Jessica Panek from Milestones Early Learning Meridan Plains, QLD

Most Improved Centre Manager

Jessica Lambert from Milestones Early Learning Cootamundra, NSW

Runner Up Best Centre Managers

Makayla Cummins Aussie Kindies Glen Innes, NSW Kandas Brown Kids Academy Warnervale, NSW Aimee Butler Aussie Kindies Woy Woy, NSW

Find out more at www.affinityeducation.com.au . Pictured (2nd from left) Tori Robinson, Affinity State Manager NSW / ACT, pictured with Catherine Laramy, Kerri Kyte, Kellie Bray.

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