Three ECEC providers win coveted Employer of Choice designation in 2023 AB Awards

The 2023 Australian Business Awards (ABA) have seen three large early childhood education and care (ECEC) providers recognised in the coveted Employer of Choice category. 

 

The annual awards provide an opportunity for organisations to demonstrate their credentials in the workplace space with recognition given to those that maximise the full potential of their workforce through established policies and practices which demonstrate effective employee recruitment, engagement and retention.

 

Goodstart Early Learning, Affinity Education Group and KU Childens’ Services were all recognised for their efforts across three main criteria, namely: 

 

• Developing a leading workplace; 
• Maximising the full potential of its workforce; and; 
• Having established policies and practices in place for effective employee recruitment, engagement and retention.

 

It is the first time three ECEC providers have been recognised in the awards at the same time and is testament to the progress the early learning sector has made in workplace related matters.  

 

This year saw Goodstart Early Learning and Affinity Education Group included for the first time and also KU Childrens’ Services retaining its designation for a remarkable eighth consecutive year. 

 

Investing in teams is key to Goodstart’s success

 

For Goodstart CEO Dr Ros Baxter the Employer of Choice recognition is one which acknowledges the efforts Goodstart Early Learning has gone to to invest in its people. 

 

“Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that investing in our team members contributes directly to the positive outcomes we achieve for the children and families we serve,” she said.

 

“Our shared vision that Australia’s children have the best possible start in life is the key to our strong, child focused culture. This award is a testament to our teams’ commitment to provide a nurturing, inclusive, and fulfilling workplace where our employees can thrive.”

 

Potential from every Affinity employee 

 

Tim Hickey, Affinity’s CEO, said the Affinity leadership team is “100 per cent committed to ensuring Affinity provides competitive and rewarding employment opportunities and training and development designed to optimise and recognise passion and potential in every employee.” 

 

“This award acknowledges every trainee, educator, teacher, centre management team, area manager, national leadership team, quality and education team, and Affinity’s incredible centre support office who back our centres every day to deliver high-quality early education and care.” 

 

KU marks eight consecutive Employer of Choice designations

 

KU Children’s Services was recognised as an Employer of Choice for the eighth consecutive year since becoming the first early education provider to win the award in 2016.

 

“We are incredibly proud to have been named as an Employer of Choice at The Australian Business Awards for eight consecutive years,” said KU CEO Christine Legg.

 

“We’re committed to ensuring our workplace culture allows for people to thrive, innovate and develop lifelong careers, and we warmly welcome new staff into the KU family, invest in their future, and support them as people.”

 

“We remain firmly focused on living our values, and by placing our people at the heart of all we do, we constantly reimagine and co-create a world of work where our people and our purpose thrive in harmony in a supportive and inclusive culture.”

 

With more than 2000 employees working across over 120 early education and care services, KU is firmly established as one of Australia’s leading employers in the early childhood sector and as a leading place to work across Australia. 

 

Rigorous award selection process 

 

The Awards are conducted annually and have become a key part of the business calendar, particularly for organisations looking to demonstrate their commitment and efforts to meeting the highest expectations for workplace performance. 

 

All organisations entering the awards were required to demonstrate achievements across the key areas of Organisational Culture; Leadership and Strategy; Employee Education, Training and Development; Employee Health, Safety and Satisfaction; Performance Management; and Recognition and Remuneration.

 

Entries were judged through a rigorous and dynamic framework consisting of specialised assessment criteria and sub-criteria, enabling the participating organisations to be benchmarked against world-class performance standards.

 

To learn more about the Australian Business Awards please see here.