Winners of the 2021 NT Education and Care Awards announced at ceremony

The winners of the 2021 NT Education and Care Awards were announced on Friday 15 October at a ceremony held at DoubleTree Hilton, Darwin.
The Sector extends congratulations to all the finalists and the following recipients of the awards.
Outstanding Educator
Arphon Auntasi – Play Creation Day Care – Ms Auntasi was recognised for consistently demonstrating exceptional behaviour and commitment to improving their skills and ensuring quality outcomes for children.
Outstanding Aboriginal Educator
Cheryl Keighran – Borroloola Families as First Teachers – Ms Keighran was noted for consistently demonstrating exceptional behaviour and commitment to improving her skills and ensuring quality outcomes for children.
Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher
Jessica Rose – Canteen Creek Families as First Teachers / Stay Plan Learn – Ms Rose holds an ACECQA-approved Early Childhood Teacher Qualification and demonstrated commitment to delivering quality practice and achieving positive outcomes for children.
Outstanding Leader
Maria Baron – Goodstart Early Learning Nightcliff – Ms Baron has worked in the early childhood education and care sector for more than three years, and was recognised for her exceptional leadership qualities and contribution to continuous quality improvement in service and program delivery.
Outstanding Achievement in Innovation
Children’s Ground Limited was noted in this category as an education and care service or program which has developed and embedded an innovative practice that is delivering benefits in one or more of the following areas; family and community engagement, program development and delivery, staff professional development and learning or governance and leadership.
For more information about the Awards, please see here.
Popular

Quality
Practice
Provider
Workforce
Reclaiming Joy: Why connection, curiosity and care still matter in early childhood education
2025-07-09 10:00:07
by Fiona Alston

Policy
Practice
Provider
Quality
Research
Workforce
Beyond the headlines: celebrating educators and the power of positive relationships in early learning
2025-07-07 10:00:24
by Fiona Alston

Workforce
Policy
Quality
Practice
Provider
Research
ECEC must change now, our children can’t wait for another inquiry
2025-07-02 07:47:14
by Fiona Alston