G8 Education announces winners of 2024 National Standout Educator Award

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider G8 Education has announced the winners of its National Standout Educator Awards, celebrating six exceptional team members who exemplify excellence.

The National Standout Educator Awards are run annually and recognise educators for their outstanding contributions across six key categories: 

• Safety
• Sustainability
• Community Engagement 
• Family Engagement
• Mentoring and; 
• Outstanding Practice

Winners were nominated by their peers and leaders, reflecting the profound impact they have made on children, families, and their communities.

The award winners, G8 Education CEO Pejman Okhovat said, “showed that G8 team members really were living and breathing the company’s purpose of building the foundations for learning for life.”

“Each of these remarkable educators have demonstrated unwavering dedication to their roles, embodying G8 Education’s values of passion, innovation, dedication, compassion, and integrity,” he said.

“They have set a high standard in early childhood education and care, and their achievements have inspired us all.”

G8 Education’s 2024 National Standout Educator Award Winners are:

Safety: Jyoti Dange, Creative Garden Early Learning, Berwick (VIC) 

Sustainability: Sharmin Sultana, Community Kids Ingleburn (NSW) 

Community Engagement: Natalie Italiano, Community Kids Austral (NSW) 

Family Engagement: Telesia Sakaria, Community Kids Heatley (QLD) 

Mentoring: Ashley Kovac, Community Kids Sunbury (VIC) 

Outstanding Practice: Padmashree Sharma, Greenwood Burwood East (VIC) 

Safety award winner Jyoti Dange said she was humbled by the recognition, and that winning the award “is deeply meaningful because it reflects my commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for children and my colleagues.” 

“Safety goes beyond physical measures,” she continued, “it’s about fostering emotional security and inclusivity; this recognition inspires me to continue embedding safety into every aspect of our care setting.”

Ashley Kovac was celebrated for her leadership and ability to inspire others, and said she was “overwhelmed with emotion” when her name was announced in the Mentoring category. 

“Mentoring in early childhood education is about inspiring confidence, fostering professional growth, and empowering educators to shape young minds with intention and care,” she said.

“Together with my team, we’ve embraced program changes, refined documentation, and critically reflected on practices to ensure positive outcomes for children, educators, and families.

“When my name was announced, I was overwhelmed with a mix of pride, gratitude, and disbelief that my work had been recognised so meaningfully.”

G8 Education extended congratulations to all award winners and nominees for their efforts and achievements, extending its gratitude to the entire network of educators who work tirelessly to shape young lives and support families every day.