Winners of the Excellence in Early Childhood Education Awards 2025 are ...

Yet again, the annual Excellence in Early Childhood Education Awards did not disappoint! It again remains the largest awards programme for the early childhood education and care sector, not only in NSW but across Australia!

On Saturday, 8 November 2025, well over 650 early childhood educators, teachers, support personnel, Educational Leaders, Nominated Supervisors/directors, Approved Providers and more gathered at the Hyatt Regency Sydney CBD to celebrate our services' successes and accomplishments for our children and each other.

Of the amazing finalists for 2025, congratulations go to the following winners:

• Metropolitan Services Excellence Awards:

  • Large Private Metropolitan Service - Clever Cubs Early Learning Centre

  • Small Private Metropolitan Service - Bindook Cottage

  • Large Community Metropolitan Service - Birrahlee Preschool

  • Small Community Metropolitan Service - Bundeena Maianbar Preschool
    
    

• Regional/Rural Services Excellence Awards:

  • Large Private Regional/Rural Service - Junior Einsteins, Shell Heights

  • Small Private Regional/Rural Service - Cambridge Hills Preschool

  • Large Community Regional/Rural Service - Hunter Valley Grammar School ELC

  • Small Community Regional/Rural Service - Possums Early Learning Centre
    
    

• Excellence Awards:

  • Excellence in Educational Program & Practice - Little Treasures Childcare - Singleton

  • Excellence in Environmental Program - liv2learn Early Education Thirlmere

  • Excellence in Partnerships with Families - Clovel Childcare & Early Learning Centre South Penrith

  • Excellence in Community Involvement - liv2learn Early Education Thirlmere

  • Excellence in Inclusivity Practices - Gilgandra Preschool

  • Excellence in Children’s Wellbeing & Health - Clovel Childcare & Early Learning Centre Greystanes

  • Excellence in Children’s Safety - Gilgandra Preschool

  • Excellence in Food & Nutrition - HazelGrove Early Education Centre

  • Excellence in Multicultural Program - Cuddlez Preschool & Montessori

  • Excellence in Food & Menu Design - Story House Mascot

  • Excellence in Australian History & Culture - Junior Einsteins Shell Heights
    
    

• Excellence in Training:

  • Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care - Kiara Valeriano, Kindalin

  • Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care - Darcie Chapman, Little Diggers Preschool

  • Training Excellence Award - Gilgandra Preschool
    
    

• Excellence in People:

  • Team Excellence Award - Metropolitan Service - Toybox Early Learning

  • Team Excellence Award - Regional/Rural Service - Boorowa Early Education Centre

  • Employer Excellence Award - 3 Bears Cottage Early Education Service

  • Director/Nominated Supervisor Excellence Award - Monalisa Jani, CASS Gumnut Early Learning Centre St Leonards

  • Female Educator Excellence Award - Chantelle Whiting​, Neutral Bay Kindergarten

  • Male Educator Excellence Award - Samuel Klus, Goodstart Early Learning Tuggerah

  • Educational Leader Excellence Award - Elizabeth Fricker, Cressy Road Early Learning

  • Young Female Educator Excellence Award - Breearna Thorn, 3 Bears Cottage Early Education Service

  • Young Male Educator Excellence Award - Ben Winnel, Little Wonders Early Education Centre Estella

  • Service Support Person Excellence Award - Hayley Hoawerth, Hunter Valley Grammar School ELC
    
    

• Outcomes for Children

  • Birth - 3 Years - Peek-A-Boo Cottage

  • Preschool - Central Coast Montessori
    
    

• Business Excellence Award

  • Large Metropolitan Service - Oakville Preschool Learning Centre

  • Small Metropolitan Service - Milieu Early Education and Care - Condell Park

  • Large Regional/Rural Service - Bowral Street Childcare

  • Small Regional/Rural Service - Developing Dreams Early Learning Chain Valley Bay

We continue to be extremely grateful to our wonderful sponsors for their support:

• Guild Insurance

• Guild Early Learning

• KKTC

• NOVA Employment

• Huggies

Without our sponsors and those who nominated, this annual awards event would not be possible.

The official set of photos and videos will be released as soon as possible. So, please visit this webpage again.

For any further information, please contact the ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 10 NOVEMBER 2025