Nominations open for 2026 ANZUK x ELAA Impact Award

Nominations are open for the 2026 ANZUK x ELAA Impact Award, recognising an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to their early childhood education and care service and community.

Presented by ANZUK Education and Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA), the award celebrates people whose dedication, leadership, innovation and collaboration create positive outcomes for children, families, colleagues and the wider learning community.

The recipient will be announced at ELAA’s annual general meeting on 19 November. Nominations close Friday 23 October 2026.

The award looks beyond a person’s position or length of service to consider the difference their work has made. A nominee might have strengthened relationships with families, supported children’s inclusion and wellbeing, helped colleagues grow in confidence or led an improvement within their service.

Nominators are encouraged to show how that contribution has made a difference. The nomination form asks for specific examples and evidence against five assessment criteria.

The first criterion considers the nominee’s positive impact on children, families or the wider learning community. Nominators can describe improvements in children’s learning, engagement or wellbeing, as well as work that has made a program or environment more inclusive.

The form also invites examples of stronger family partnerships, community connections and initiatives that have responded to a need within the service. A useful nomination would explain what the individual did, why it mattered and what changed as a result.

Nominees will also be assessed on how they embody ANZUK’s values: Belief, Equity, Growth, Relationships, Empowerment, Attitude and Team.

This criterion gives nominators an opportunity to describe the way a person works with others. Examples could include building respectful relationships, supporting equitable practices, encouraging colleagues’ development or helping create a collaborative team culture.

The strongest examples are likely to be grounded in everyday practice: how the nominee responds to children and families, works alongside colleagues and contributes to an environment in which others feel supported.

The third criterion focuses on a nominee’s willingness to identify challenges, try new approaches and keep developing their practice.

Nominators might describe a practical improvement the individual introduced, professional learning they put into action or knowledge they shared with colleagues. The form also asks nominators to consider contributions that go beyond the usual requirements of a person’s role.

An example does not need to be a large program or formal leadership project. It could be a thoughtful response to a recurring challenge, provided the nomination explains the person’s initiative and its effect on others.

Early childhood professionals regularly respond to changing needs and circumstances. Under this criterion, nominators can show how an individual has supported others through change, adapted practice to meet an emerging need or found a practical solution under pressure.

The form asks nominators to consider flexibility, resilience and professionalism. Rather than simply describing someone as adaptable, a nomination can identify a particular situation, the action they took and how they supported children, families or colleagues through it.

The final criterion considers the nominee’s contribution to quality improvement and the culture of their service or the broader ECEC sector.

Examples may include mentoring colleagues, promoting teamwork, contributing to a quality improvement initiative or participating in a professional network. Nominators can also describe how the individual’s actions have encouraged others to reflect on and strengthen their practice.

Together, the criteria allow nominators to recognise forms of leadership and influence that may not appear in a job title. They provide space to show how one person’s consistent work has shaped experiences for children and families while supporting the people around them.

The nomination form asks for the nominee’s and nominator’s details, along with the details of a second person who supports the nomination. Nominators must provide a summary of why the individual deserves recognition and detailed responses to each of the five criteria.

There is also space to include achievements, initiatives, feedback, testimonials or examples not covered elsewhere in the form. Nominators must confirm that the information they provide is accurate and that they have obtained the nominee’s permission if their organisation requires it.