Northern Territory Education and Care Awards open for 2026

The Northern Territory Education and Care Awards have opened for 2026, recognising educators, leaders, services and programs making a positive difference for children and families across the Territory.

Established by the Department of Education and Training in 2013, the awards celebrate outstanding achievements across early childhood education and care (ECEC) and outside school hours care (OSHC).

Recognising excellence across the Territory

The awards are open to educators and services across long day care, family day care, kindergarten, preschool, outside school hours care, playgroups and other services catering for children from birth to five years, and up to 12 years of age for OSHC.

Award categories for 2026

The 2026 award categories are:

• Outstanding Educator
• Outstanding Aboriginal Educator
• Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher
• Outstanding Leader
• Outstanding Education and Care Program, with the 2026 theme ‘Nurturing a child safe culture in early childhood education and care’.

The awards provide an important opportunity to acknowledge the professionalism, leadership and community impact of the Territory’s education and care workforce.

For educators and services working across diverse, remote and culturally rich contexts, recognition can help strengthen sector visibility, support workforce pride and showcase quality practice taking place across the NT.

Nominations can be submitted by the community, parents and carers, education and care services, and educators themselves.

Nominees must meet the eligibility criteria for their category and be endorsed by a service director, nominated supervisor or service provider.

The 2026 awards ceremony will be held on Friday 16 October 2026.

Further information, including nomination forms, eligibility criteria and key details, is available on the Northern Territory Education and Care Awards website.