ACA NSW announces winners of 2023 Excellence in Early Childhood Education Awards

The New South Wales branch of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) has announced the winners of its annual Excellence in Early Childhood Education Awards at a Gala Dinner event held at the Sofitel Wentworth Sydney on Saturday, 21 October 2023.

 

Nominations were received across 28 categories, with judges describing the breadth and depth of submissions as truly inspirational.

 

Submissions were reviewed by a panel of 22 voluntary judges who assessed all the nominations received and made the ‘extremely difficult’ choices of who the winners of this year’s Awards would be.

 

The winners are as follows: 

 

• Children’s Outcomes: Physical Health & Well-Being
  • Innovative Early Learning (Artarmon)
• Children’s Outcomes: Social Competence
  • Clovel Childcare & Early Learning Centre (Granville)
• Children’s Outcomes: Emotional Maturity
  • Toybox Early Learning (Mascot)
• Children’s Outcomes: Language & Cognitive Skills
  • Star Kingdom Childcare Centre and Kindergarten (Ruse)
• Children’s Outcomes: Communication Skills & General Knowledge
  • Toybox Early Learning (Mascot)
• Young Female Educator Excellence Awards (25 years or less)
  • Georgia Clarke, TLC Early Learning Centre (Raymond Terrace)
• Young Male Educator Excellence Award (25 years old or less)
  • Timothy Parkes, Explorers Learning Academy (Bardia)
• Female Educator Excellence Award
  • Monalisa Jani, CASS Gumnut Early Learning Centre (St Leonard’s)
• Male Educator Excellence Award
  • Jason Naismith, Hunter Valley Grammar School Early Learning (Ashtonfield)
• Educational Leader Excellence Award
  • Meg Barnden-Hyde, TG’s Childcare (Armidale)
• Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Kaitlyn Brain, Clovel Childcare & Early Learning Centre (Lidcombe)
• Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Meg Newby, Cherryblossom Early Learning Centre (Leura)
• Team Excellence Award – Metropolitan Service
  • Gumnut Kidz Kindergarten (Narallan)
• Team Excellence Award – Regional/Rural Service
  • Gilgandra Preschool Inc (Gilgandra)
• Excellence in Educational Program & Practice
  • Gilgandra Preschool Inc (Gilgandra)
• Excellence in Physical Environment
  • The Hub Preschool and Early Education (Rutherford)
• Excellence in Partnerships with Families & Communities
  • Mi Kids (Northern Beaches)
• Excellence in Inclusivity
  • Kookaburra Early Learning (Casino)
• Excellence in Children’s Health & Safety
  • Colour My World Children’s Centre (West Ryde)
• Excellence in Food & Nutrition
  • Little Treasures Childcare (Greta)
• Small Private Metropolitan Service (39 places or less)
  • Gumnut Kidz Kindergarten (Narellan)
• Large Private Metropolitan Service (40 places of more)
  • Oakville Preschool Learning Centre (Oakville)
• Large Community Metropolitan Service (40 places or more)
  • CASS Gumnut Early Learning Centre (Campsie)
• Small Private Regional Service (39 places or less)
  • Creative Kids Preschool (Belmont South)
• Large Private Regional Service (40 places or more)
  • 3 Bears Cottage Early Education Service (Coffs Harbour)
• Small Community Regional Service (39 places or less)
  • Ulladulla Children’s Centre (Ulladulla)
• Large Community Regional Service (40 places or more)
  • Hunter Valley Grammar School Early Learning Centre (Ashtonfield)

 

ACA NSW also thanked its sponsors Guild Insurance, Guild Early Learning, Kool Kids Training College, NOVA Employment, Huggies and Mollard Property Group for their support. 

 

Award organisers also expressed gratitude for the attendance and participation of the NSW Minister for Finance (Hon Courtney Houssos MLC), the NSW Shadow Treasurer (the Hon Damien Tudehope MLC) and the NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning (the Hon Sarah Mitchell MLC).