Montessori Academy shares insights after achieving landmark ISO certifications

Montessori Academy has become the first early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider in Australia to achieve ISO certification across three internationally recognised standards, a milestone that reflects the provider’s commitment to quality, safety and sustainability.

International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) develops global benchmarks to help organisations deliver consistent quality, manage environmental impact and ensure workplace health and safety. For ECEC providers, these standards offer a structured, evidence-based way to strengthen internal systems and improve outcomes for children, families and staff.

Montessori Academy’s certification spans:

• ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems
• ISO 14001: Environmental Management Systems
• ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

The Sector spoke with Montessori Academy Chief Operating Officer Rami Nassif about the certification journey and what it means for educators, families and the broader ECEC sector.

Fiona: Congratulations on achieving ISO certification across three standards. Can you share what inspired Montessori Academy to pursue these internationally recognised benchmarks in quality, safety, and environmental management? 

Rami: We’ve always been committed to delivering the highest standards of care and education, and delivering for the families who trust us with their children’s care. Pursuing ISO certification was a natural progression. ISO accreditation provides a globally recognised and comprehensive framework to assess our systems across three National Quality Standard aligned areas that are core to our offering; quality, safety, and environmental management.  

In addition to meeting regulatory standards and our own robust systems and processes, we saw this as another opportunity to affirm that each family and educator is getting the very best experience with us.  

Fiona: Montessori Academy is the first childcare group in Australia to reach this milestone.  What does this achievement mean for your organisation and the broader early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector? 

Rami: This is a proud moment for our organisation. Having opened our first centre in 2000, it celebrates 25-years of hard work, investment, and dedication to excellence in early childhood education. 

For the sector more broadly, it shows a pathway to go above and beyond regulatory requirements with a set of recognised standards that benefit children, families, educators, and the environment. 

It introduces an added layer of assurance through independent bodies and external auditors, helping to validate our processes and highlight our commitment to continuous improvement through well-documented and embedded practices. It’s not a short journey, but we’ve found it to be hugely valuable.  

Fiona: How does Quality Management Systems ISO support your approach to quality assurance and continuous improvement within early learning environments? 

Rami: It is a testament to the strong systems and practices we already have in place, while also providing a proven framework for critical reflection and continuous  improvement. In addition to NQS-aligned critical reflection, it prompts us to regularly assess what’s working well and identify opportunities to proactively enhance the quality of education and care across our network of over 58 centres. 

By embedding consistency organisation-wide, critical reflection supports us in making  informed, evidence-based decisions and sharing best practices across teams. In the dynamic environment of early learning, ISO’s focus on process, accountability, and clear communication has further enriched the daily experience for both families and educators, reinforcing our commitment to excellence. 

Fiona: Sustainability is increasingly important in early learning. What initiatives or changes did Montessori Academy implement to meet the Environmental Management Standard? 

Rami: Montessori Academy has always focused on sustainability. By achieving the Environmental Management Systems affirms how we care for the environment throughout daily operations and sow the seeds for a sustainability mindset among children. A notable achievement aligned with this standard and our commitment to sustainability is Montessori Academy group’s achievement of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) certification at our Earlwood campus in 2024. 

Fiona: What does achieving the Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems mean for Montessori Academy’s approach to workplace safety and educator wellbeing?

Rami: Workplace safety and wellbeing are key to quality education. Our team does amazing work every day and this achievement has helped benchmark our approach to ensure we are doing everything we can to support them. It ensures that risk is managed systematically, and that support for our team is embedded and proactive – not just reactive.  

It also strengthens the structures and culture around listening to staff and acting early to  prevent issues from escalating. Our dedicated Area Manager – Quality and Safety Officers, alongside our Facilities Care Team, Employee Access Program (EAP), and in-house Mental and physical First-Aid training procedures all reinforce our culture of safety and commitment to everyone’s wellbeing. 

Fiona: Have you seen any measurable changes in staff engagement or workplace culture as a result of this focus? 

Rami: Since reaching this milestone, we’ve observed positive changes with our enhanced Quality Management System (QMS). We’ve seen a positive shift in how our teams engage with safety and support systems, with team members now taking more proactive steps to critically reflect on their practices. There’s a stronger sense of pride and accountability, and we’re seeing action items resolved more quickly, helping to close the loop sooner. This mindset is driving continuous improvement across the organisation. 

LOOKING AHEAD 

Fiona: How will you ensure these standards remain living practices rather than just certifications on paper? 

Rami: For us, ISO certification is more than a badge, it’s a testament to the strong foundations already in place across Montessori Academy. It reflects the way we live our Core Values every day: respect, accountability, collaboration, and a commitment to lifelong learning. These Standards align naturally with our Montessori philosophy, which is centred on continuous growth, purposeful engagement, and creating environments where both children and educators thrive. 

To ensure the Standards remain active and meaningful, we focus on leading by example and embedding our culture of excellence. This commitment ties directly to our investment in people, nurturing a culture where high-quality education, care, and professional integrity are  lived values.

This article includes excerpts from a Q & A interview provided by Montessori Academy in May 2025. Read the original certification announcement here.