Affinity Everton Park recognised in annual WasteSMART Brisbane Awards

Tina Barbour, Centre Manager of Milestones Early Learning Everton Park, never could have imagined that solving a problem for time and resource-poor parents would lead to being recognised by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner in the annual WasteSMART Brisbane Awards. 

“The decision to create a sustainable clothes swap in our centre resulted from our most recent Affinity Quality Assessment, and consultation with our team around Quality Area 3 which refers to sustainable practices being meaningful when they are consistent, embedded into practice and communicated to families,” Ms Barbour said. 

Sustainability was not a new concept for the service, which has been practicing recycling waste and other environmentally friendly practices for a number of years, but blending sustainability and the current cost of living crisis was a new idea. 

“We reflected on the current financial situation facing many families and we realised what a benefit it would be to invite them to swap clothes which were in good condition,” the Director explained. 

The Milestones Early Learning Everton Park Family Clothes Swap was created, and the service was recognised out of a group of three early learning finalists at the formal WasteSMART Awards for the initiative. 

“We’re thrilled to receive this recognition but the main benefit is what we are offering our families – it’s in line with our Affinity Value of ‘going above and beyond’ and we know it makes a difference,” Ms Barbour said. 

For Queensland State Manager Caz Laramy, the win is well deserved. 

“It’s a big boost for such a genuinely amazing group of educators,” she said. 

“Milestones Early Learning Everton Park really do live up to the adage ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ – not only are they providing exceptional quality learning through our Lifelong Learning Curriculum, but they also do so much to make families’ lives easier.” 

Learn more about the service here.