Celebrating Joy in Early Education: 2025 C&K award winners announced

Fiona Alston

Jul 29, 2025

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C&K is proud to announce the winners of our 2025 Awards, recognising the outstanding educators, teams, and centres who bring high-quality early childhood education and care to life across Queensland every day.

The winners were announced at the 2025 C&K Gala Awards Night, held on Friday, 25 July at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane. Presented by Modern Teaching Aids, the Awards Night was a highlight of the 2025 C&K Conference. The 2025 C&K Conference was proudly supported by Winc Education, which brought together over 950 early childhood professionals, researchers and sector leaders over the two days to reflect on this year’s theme: ‘Joy’.

This year’s award recipients embody the spirit of Joy, bringing it to life in their practice, their relationships with children and families, and their commitment to creating vibrant, inclusive learning communities.

Six awards were presented, celebrating exceptional contributions across C&K’s network of 325 kindergarten and childcare centres.

C&K CEO Dr Sandra Cheeseman said the awards honour the deep intentionality and expertise that sits at the heart of our employees.

“At C&K, we know that high-quality early childhood education and care doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a deliberate choice and a deeply relational practice,” said C&K CEO Dr Sandra Cheeseman. “These awards are about recognising the educators, teams and services who make that choice every day and go further to listen, to lead, to partner with families and communities, and to ensure every child feels safe, seen, and supported to flourish.”

Pictured above: 2025 C&K Award Winners: Lynette Harding, Madison Pease, Stephanie Oliver, Ashleigh Brown, Rebecca Walsh, C&K CEO Dr Sandra Cheeseman, Kylie Krawczyk, Danielle Davies, Kate Hinschen & Natalie McDougall.

2025 C&K Award Winners

Department of Education Inspiring Impact Award – Lynette Harding, C&K Coomera Community Kindergarten - Lynette was recognised for her passionate, ongoing commitment to cultural inclusion and connection, embedded throughout more than 25 years of kindergarten practice and programming.

Winc Education Curious Mindset Award – Rebecca Walsh, Bayview Kindergarten - Rebecca was celebrated for over a decade of creative, child-led programming focused on sustainability and Connection to Country, nurturing curiosity through meaningful inquiry.

Winc Education Playful Pedagogy Award – Natalie McDougall, C&K Slade Point Community Kindergarten- Natalie’s introduction of Edgar the beloved puppet brought imagination, self-regulation tools, and deep relational joy to children’s teachers’, and educators’ everyday experiences.

HESTA Reconciliation in Action Award – C&K Kirwan Community Kindergarten - The Kirwan team were acknowledged for their ongoing commitment to reconciliation framed as a foundation built on trust, listening and meaningful engagement with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

C&K CEO Award – Kate Hinschen, C&K Ingham Community Kindergarten - Personally selected by C&K CEO Dr Sandra Cheeseman, this award recognises Kate Hinschen, Centre Director of C&K Ingham Community Kindergarten, for her exceptional leadership during Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. When floods cut off power and isolated the centre, Kate’s calm, decisive actions ensured the safety of children and staff. Thanks to Kate’s leadership, its community and spirit remain strong and supported as the children have settled into their temporary place while their centre is being rebuilt.

MTA Emeritus Professor Mary Mahoney Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Care – C&K Moranbah Community Kindergarten - The prestigious Mary Mahoney Award was presented to C&K Moranbah for their transformative practice, including empowering children to advocate for local play spaces and connect their voices to community decision-making resulting in the children attending Council Chambers to present their ideas directly to the Isaac Regional Council Mayor Kelly Vea Vea.

The Gala Awards Night also featured special guest speakers, including the Honourable John-Paul Langbroek MP and early childhood education leader Catharine Hydon. Attendees left inspired by the creativity, commitment, and joy on full display across the sector.

C&K extends heartfelt thanks to this year’s award sponsors: the Queensland Department of Education, HESTA, Winc Education, and major partner for the C&K Gala Awards Night, MTA.

Pictured above: The Hon John-Paul Langbroek, Minister for Education and the Arts with Department of Education Inspiring Impact Award Winner, Lynette Harding, Centre Director of C&K Coomera Community Kindergarten.

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