Aspire Early Education and Kindergarten celebrates success with 2024 Awards Gala

Team members from every corner of the Aspire Early Education and Kindergarten community came together on Saturday the 12th of October to celebrate success and achievement at the 2024 Aspire Awards Gala. 

Described as “a night to remember”, the Awards Gala was a fantastic way to celebrate the depth of incredible talent within Aspire, with team members from across the country gathering at The Crown Aviary in Melbourne’s Southbank. 

2024 Aspire Awards Gala sponsors, Naiko Personal Computers, KinderM8, Modern Teaching Aids, Educating Kids, Woolworths at Work, Alpha Facilities, Oreana Group, and Excape Group collectively ensured that award winners were honoured and celebrated, while Growth and Business Strategy Manager, Simone Andrews acted as MC.

The evening began with an Acknowledgement of Country delivered by the children of Aspire Atherstone, which was followed by Simone and Aspire’s Director, Sam Rutecki who encouraged attendees to reflect on the purpose of the evening – to recognise and celebrate those who go above and beyond to inspire their colleagues, and to make an impact on the lives of children and families. 

After a long nomination and deliberation period in the months leading up to the evening, it was then time to proudly announce the winners of the Aspire Awards Gala’s eleven individual awards.

Click on the image below to see a video from the event:

The first award was the Aspire Rising Star Award, given to a trainee who exemplifies Aspire’s vision of “Connect, Learn, Grow”. Isabella Scammell-Mennen from Aspire Bendigo, Kennington was the winner of this award. Her team cited “Her strong work ethic and exceptional teamwork skills have been truly impressive,” and as being worthy of the award. 

The Most Valuable Educator Award, sponsored by Modern Teaching Aids, went to Sukirat Sidhu from Aspire Thornhill Park, due to her popularity among parents and children, along with her ability to lead her room effectively. The Assistant Educator of the Year award, sponsored by Educating Kids, went to Mili Sinha from Wollert, who has been at the centre since it opened in 2022. Mili’s respectful, supportive nature and dedication to her responsibilities make her a highly regarded and appreciated team member.

Bella Estate’s Lakshmi Murali won the Room Leader of the Year Award, presented by Alpha Facilities Group, for her ability to transform her classroom into an incredible environment for learning. Lakshmi is an enthusiastic and hardworking educator, known for her professionalism and strong knowledge of planning.

The Teacher of the Year Award, sponsored by KinderM8, was presented to Keerthi Somashankara from Aspire Berwick Waters. This award celebrates an outstanding Early Childhood Teacher who has implemented an innovative Kindergarten program. Keerthi excels in creating inclusive, engaging learning environments, and fostering strong relationships with families, the community, and local schools.

The hotly contested Chef of the Year Award, presented by Woolworths at Work, had many worthy nominees. This award was given to a centre chef who embodies creativity, passion, and a deep understanding of early childhood nutrition. Their contributions support the health and well-being of the children at their centre. Sukhi Kaur from Clyde North, who has since moved into the role of Centre Support Manager, won this award. In her role as Chef, Sukhi continually created delicious meals for the children at the centre, as well as running popular “MasterChef” nights for centre parents.  

The Aspire Manager of the Year Award was awarded to Suhaila Shah from Aspire Cobblebank. Suhaila works incredibly hard to ensure their centre runs smoothly, and that both the children and families are enjoying their Aspire experience. Her efficient management of the centre, alongside creating a warm and collaborative environment, made her a deserving winner.  

The Support Team Member of the Year, sponsored by Naiko Personal Computers, was presented to a member of the Support Office team who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and effort in supporting services to achieve their goals. Aspire’s Business Project Manager, Amber D’alessandro received this award as she consistently goes beyond her responsibilities proactively and selflessly.   

The first team award, the Leader in Innovation, sponsored by Oreana Group, recognised a service for implementing a program that fosters a culture of creativity. Due to their innovative Piazza Project, Aspire Bella Estate collected this award.

Aspire’s Leader in Excellence Award, presented by Excape Group was awarded to Aspire Berwick Waters for their team’s commitment to fostering strong relationships with families. The Berwick Waters team ensures that the community is at the heart of their service through their events and programs.

The prestigious Centre of the Year Award was presented to  Aspire Early Education Clyde North for successfully embedding a culture of collaboration and teamwork. This centre excels in every category to provide the best possible education and care to all families.

Aspire is dedicated to fostering the growth of both the company and their people. As a growing organisation, they are proud of their dedicated team, many of whom have been with Aspire since the beginning.

Learn more about Aspire Early Education & Kindergarten and current career opportunities by visiting the Aspire website.