VEYA finalists announced in seven categories, recognising excellence

Finalists in the Victorian Early Years Awards (VEYA) have been announced, showcasing outstanding leadership, achievement, dedication and innovation in improving outcomes for children aged from birth to eight years and their families.

2022 marks 17 years of VEYA recognising stand out early years professionals and organisations in 7 award categories focused on improving engagement in learning, supporting parents, building collaborative community partnerships, improving child health and wellbeing, exemplary practice in early childhood education, leadership and significant improvement on learning and teaching practices.

Toy Libraries Australia are finalists in the Supporting Parents to Build their Capacity and Confidence category, joined by Early Childhood Intervention Australia Victoria/Tasmania and Launch Housing in partnership with Star Health.

In the Creating Collaborative Community Partnerships space Ballarat 4 Kids joins Maroondah Occasional Care partnered with the Kerrabee Centre and Merri Health as finalists.

Coburg Children’s Centre Inc and Launch Housing’s Education Pathways program have been announced as the finalists in the ​Improving Access and Participation in Early Learning category, while Merri Health’s Ready, Set, Prep! Initiative and Buninyong Uniting Kindergarten’s Transition to School program are finalists in the Continuity of Early Learning space. 

Amandah Taylor (Yuille Park Children’s Centre), Brooke O’Brien (Honeypot Early Learning Centre) and Julie Fitt (St Columba’s Uniting Kindergarten) are all in the running to be named Early Childhood Teacher of the Year, with Brighthouse Early Learning, Harista Xenidis from Bambou Early Learning Centre, and Keele Street Kindergarten’s Nature Kinder Program in line for The Emeritus Professor Collette Tayler Excellence in Educational Leadership Award.

In the Promoting Children’s Health and Wellbeing class, Your Community Health’s Interactive Play program is joined by Merri Health’s Ready, Set, Prep program and Mooroopna Park Primary School’s Wellbeing program. 

Winners are recognised as the best in Victoria for their category and go on to develop and share their inspiring work with their communities. Along with the prestige of being recognised by fellow professionals and practitioners, winners in each category receive a grant of $15,000 for professional development or to support their nominated initiative. 

The finalists and winners in each category are also eligible to win the prestigious Minister’s Award, selected by the Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep.

VEYA will be presented on Wednesday 9 November 2022. The Sector sends its congratulations to all those who were recognised this year. 

To learn more about each of the finalists please see here.