Harmony Early Learning hosts inaugural Awards ceremony on the Gold Coast

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider Harmony Early Learning hosted its inaugural Awards ceremony last weekend, recognising the incredible efforts of educators and support staff off the back of a tumultuous year.

Held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre the ceremony had more than 400,000 fairy lights, aerial dancers on silks, and internal firework displays. 

Harmony CEO, Peter Warner, described the event as “an amazing celebration of the dedicated staff across all ten centres in Southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales.”

“As a 100% Australian family-owned business, we’re all about creating a sense of community at Harmony, and after a tough year, we felt it appropriate to celebrate our educators’ contribution, energy and passion in inspiring the next generation in the best way possible,” he added. 

Educators and leaders were recognised across 12 different categories including Student of the Year, Educational Leader of the Year, Diversity and Inclusion Award and Outstanding Leadership Award.

Centre of the Year was won by Harmony’s largest service, which is located on Hope Island on the Gold Coast. The centre opened at the start of 2021 and judges said the team had “excelled in their first year of operations in all areas.”

Harmony Early Learning Hope Island cares for up to 230 children each day, under the charge of a staff team of 60. Across the network of services, Harmony cares for over 2,000 children, working with a team of more than 400 employees. 

“This event was more than just the awards; it was to commemorate all we achieved over the past year at Harmony which all our employees have been integral to,” Mr Warner said.

Over the course of the year Harmony opened three services at Springfield, Hope Island, and Yarrabilba Drive, and recruited more than 120 new team members. Over the next two years, the provider plans to double in size, creating a network of more than 20 centres in Northern New South Wales and Southern Queensland. 

“Our vision is to be and become Australia’s pre-eminent, contemporary early learning provider for discerning families and gifted educators,” Mr Warner said. 

The 12 award winners at the 2021 Inaugural Harmony Awards were as follows:

Student of the Year: Maddison Kircher, Yarrabilba, QLD

Educator of the Year: Mary Hutchinson, Corinda, QLD

Lead Educator of the Year:  Grace Duynhoven, Lennox Head, NSW

Early Childhood Teacher of the Year: Gabriella Carvalho, Greenslopes, QLD

Educational Leader of the Year:  Gabriela Hanousek, Balmoral, QLD

Centre Cook of the Year:  Mark Kerray, Hope Island, QLD

Relationship Manager of the Year:  Micaela Kahu-Kuranui, Balmoral, QLD

Support Team Member of the Year:  Melissa Nuttall, Hope Island, QLD

Diversity and Inclusion Award: Lauren Salmon, Springfield, QLD

Harmony Advocate of the Year: Tayla Stavrinoudis, Balmoral, QLD

Outstanding Leadership: Connie Ho, Balmoral, QLD

Centre of the Year: Harmony Early Learning Hope Island, QLD

To learn more about Harmony Early Learning please see here.