Third Excellent rating for Bermagui Preschool, the latest Excellent service in 2024

Bermagui Preschool, on the New South Wales Sapphire Coast, has been named as Excellent by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) for a third time. 

The service was first recognised for excellence in July 2018, again in July 2021, and most recently on 3 July 2024, a rating which will remain in place until 2 July 2029. 

The service was recognised for its collaborative partnerships with professional, community or research organisations, its positive workplace culture and organisational values, sustained commitment to professional development and support of educators, and its practice and environments that enhance children’s learning and growth.

Some examples of exceptional practice observed at the preschool include: 

• Continuing an existing partnership with a child psychologist to develop an art therapy program to support children’s emotional wellbeing. 

The partnership was initially developed in response to children and families experiencing long-term trauma from bushfires within their community. Due to the partnership, the service has now created a purpose-built art therapy room which will be a permanent environment for children to engage in the art therapy program. 

The child psychologist drew on her work with the service to develop a book on supporting trauma affected children and the official book launch will coincide with the official opening of the service’s art therapy room. 

• Supporting a child-led advocacy program on building safer pathways and pedestrian crossing within their community. 

The service identified children and families in the community were having trouble accessing facilities in their local area due to a lack of designated safe pathways and pedestrian crossings. 

In response children engaged in advocacy work including letter writing, petitions and a meeting with the NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads. Through this program, children developed their identities as strong leaders within the community.  

• Developing a specialised succession plan to support educators to up-skill and gain confidence to take on leadership roles. 

The service developed this plan as they identified that their long-standing service director would soon be retiring and by providing targeted support and initiatives, the service promotes continuity of leadership and commitment to continuous exceptional practice. Through this, an assistant director role was established, and three educators are being supported to complete their Bachelor of Early Childhood.

• As a leader in the sector, Bermagui Preschool has demonstrated their commitment to practice sharing. 

In collaboration with Community Early Learning Australia (CELA), the service helped to champion and develop the Early Educators Leaders’ Peer Network and took on the role of Regional Early Education Specialist, both of which work to provide tailored support to educators in rural and remote services. 

Bermagui Preschool also developed its own support network for individuals in the sector facing finance and administration roles. Additionally, the service has continued its work with the Moodji Farm, which has developed into a social hub that benefits the wider community through sustainable collaborations. 

To learn more about the Excellent rating please see here.