Bribie Island Kindy celebrates historic fifth Excellent rating

Bribie Island Community Kindergarten has celebrated an Australian first, bringing together past and present families, educators and community members to mark the extraordinary achievement.

The C&K affiliated kindergarten is the first early childhood education and care service in Australia to be awarded their fifth quality rating of Excellent by Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

Bribie Island Community Kindergarten first received the Excellent rating in 2014, followed by further ratings in 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2026.

This week’s celebration at Crest Park in Bellara began with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Ivan, who has a deep and longstanding connection to the kindergarten and its community.

For Director and teacher Narelle Dawson, who has been at the kindergarten for more than 35 years, the achievement reflects the many people who have contributed to the kindergarten over generations.

“It’s not an easy thing to achieve, and it takes so many people to make us who we are,” Narelle said.

“We want our whole community to feel proud, because this achievement wouldn’t be possible without our educators, volunteers, our community Elders and all the people we’ve built relationships with over the years.”

ACECQA recognised the kindergarten’s collaborative community partnerships, commitment to culture and diversity, positive workplace culture and sustained professional development, as well as its practices and environments that support children’s learning and growth.

The kindergarten’s approach is grounded in relationships and connection, including working closely with local Elders, Uncle Ron and Uncle Ivan, who share their knowledge, skills and stories with children.

Educators also undertake annual professional learning in Waiben (Thursday Island), building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, artists and educators and bringing that learning back into their practice.

Narelle said sustaining a high standard meant never becoming complacent.

“You can’t rest on your laurels. You have to keep pushing yourself and thinking deeply about what you do and how you can improve,” she said.

“For us, it needs to be authentic and organic. You need to be inventive, follow your curiosity and keep looking for ways to make things better for children and our community.”

C&K Acting CEO, Vaughan Reed, said the achievement reflected the commitment and expertise of the Bribie Island Kindergarten team.

“Achieving an Excellent rating once is a significant achievement. To do it five times, across more than a decade, speaks to an extraordinary and sustained commitment to quality,” he said.