Our investment performance FY23-24
Our CEO and CIO, Debby Blakey and Sonya Sawtell-Rickson, share our 2023-24 financial year performance and a market recap.
- Forbes Preschool
- Jackie Staudinger
- Jumbunna Community Preschool and Early Intervention Centre
- Karen Roberts - Individual leadership winner
- KU Isobel Pulsford Memorial Preschool Team
- KU West Pymble Preschool
- Lilyfield Early Learning Centre - Advancing Pedagogy and Practice winner
- Michelle Gujer
- Natalie Cordukes
winner -advancing pedagogy & practice
Lilyfield Early Learning Centre
Lilyfield NSW
Lilyfield Early Learning Centre is recognised for their community focused learning approach that empowers children to have a voice and choice, particularly through an innovative junior Parliament.
With collaboration and critical thinking development at its heart, educators at the centre have pioneered a program that has seen children discuss social issues and be involved in decision-making through the centre’s parliamentary process. The children also celebrate their achievements through a pop-up museum, and work with the centre’s Resident Artist on a ‘Creativity and the Curriculum’ project.
Responding to the effects of COVID on the mental health of children, staff and parents, the centre also developed a ‘Mindful Moments’ program for children that includes guided meditations, yoga, and dreamtime stories.
Lilyfield Early Learning Centre would like their staff to receive professional training in yoga and mindfulness for children, and work with academics on a research project advocating for children’s rights.
winner -individual leadership
City of Canterbury Bankstown, Canterbury-Bankstown NSW
Karen Roberts is recognised for her outstanding contribution to early childhood education, continually going above and beyond to be a champion of children.
Karen has worked tirelessly to uphold children’s rights, promote inclusive education, and lead with empathy and enthusiasm. She is a strong advocate for the inclusivity and protection of all children in the sector, frequently going beyond her scope of work to ensure all children have access to early childhood education.
In 2019, Karen designed an initiative with the Sydney Alliance Group, enabling parents from asylum seeker backgrounds – who are ineligible for childcare subsidies – to realise their work or study dreams by having their children placed in reduced or no-cost childcare centres. She is also working on a comprehensive intergenerational program, where children and seniors can interact and learn together.
It is Karen’s dream to influence urban planning policies to develop shared spaces where both generations can come together to share knowledge.
finalists
Forbes NSW
Forbes Preschool is recognised for their commitment to ensuring all three to five-year-olds in the community can access quality, affordable early childhood education.
Ten years ago, children from Aboriginal families and families experiencing disadvantage in Forbes were highly unlikely to participate in early childhood education due to a lack of affordability and not feeling welcome.
By increasing the number of Aboriginal educators, reducing fees, building strong community partnerships, and implementing support programs, children can attend the preschool and access a judgement-free, equitable learning space. The educators also assist with a pop-up preschool service, which appears in disadvantaged areas of the community to help people access local services.
Now, 50% of enrolments are children from families experiencing disadvantage. The preschool runs an Aboriginal Language and Culture program, a Healthy Beginnings breakfast program, and the Girinya Program for children with developmental vulnerabilities who were not receiving therapy.
KU Children’s Services, Macquarie Fields NSW
Jackie is recognised for the astute and dedicated leadership of her team at KU Macquarie Fields Preschool, supporting educators to create a thriving learning community.
As director of the preschool, Jackie guides the team in research and evidence-based practice, re-imagining new ways of teaching and delivering programs that are valued by the local community.
Within the preschool’s Healthy Eating Project, Jackie has established partnerships to help communicate information on nutrition and healthy eating. She has partnered with the NSW Government’s Munch and Move health initiative, community health services and ‘Chef Charlotte’, who has provided cooking experiences for children and parents.
Jumbunna Community Preschool and Early Intervention Centre
Casino NSW
Jumbunna Community Preschool and Early Intervention Centre is recognised for their incredible dedication to supporting children with disability and special learning needs in their local community in rural New South Wales.
Many families in the local area rely on the centre. They are hours away from a major city and often struggle to access services due to financial concerns and a lack of confidence.
Jumbunna addresses this need by bringing support to families. With more than 40 staff, including early childhood and special education teachers, speech and occupational therapists, Jumbunna builds a team around the child to create a holistic education experience and better outcomes for the child and their families.
KU Isobel Pulsford Memorial Preschool Team
KU Children’s Services, Epping NSW
The KU Isobel Pulsford Memorial Preschool Team is recognised for embracing a culture of inquiry and creating a space for the community to thrive.
The preschool has taken on a revitalised view of pedagogical practice, which sees young children as capable, resourceful thinkers and producers of knowledge. This new way of thinking has also enabled parents to re-examine their assumptions and engage with their children in new and exciting ways.
As a result, many families are now embracing a more inquisitive approach to early learning. The child is celebrated as co-researcher, co-constructor and a key companion in the learning and teaching experience.
KU Children’s Services, West Pymble NSW
KU West Pymble Preschool is recognised for their efforts to incorporate sustainability into their pedagogy and practice, contributing to their vision for a better, healthier world.
Their approach has inspired children to think about living responsibly and caring for the environment. In consultation with families, the children have initiated actions regarding recycling, waste, water and power management, as well as identifying practices to be adopted in the home.
This work has also highlighted the children’s capacity for civic participation. After the preschool implemented a program to develop understanding of the local bush, the children noticed the local creek had turned orange. They took water samples and worked with local council to help monitor the water quality.
This culture of learning has inspired the entire community. It has positioned KU West Pymble Preschool and the children as leaders in sustainable practices and has helped the children develop empathy, resilience, and respect.
Gowrie Victoria, Broadmeadows VIC
Michelle is recognised for her work over the past 30 years to develop early childhood educators through supportive leadership, mentoring, and shared decision-making to lead change and enrich team development.
For Michelle, building community partnerships and engaging families as children’s first educators is key to better education and care outcomes.
She strives to reach the most disadvantaged cohorts within the community, applying a multidisciplinary approach through her strong community partnerships to support children and family needs. Michelle’s commitment has seen community uptake of the service growing from approximately 30% utilisation to nearly 100%.
Michelle has also led the team to participate in research, partner with the local primary school to support effective student transition and collaborate with child protection and other agencies to support the safety and wellbeing of children.
Paddington Children’s Centre (Uniting), Paddington NSW
Natalie is recognised for her strong leadership on reconciliation at Paddington Children’s Centre. This resulted in a new culturally safe learning environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
After developing a Reconciliation Action Plan, Natalie formed relationships with local Aboriginal community members and organisations to enhance learning environments for families and the community. One aspect of this work was to create a culturally safe space. Natalie oversaw the restoration of a four-storey terrace for the Aboriginal Children’s Service (ACS), bringing together a team of volunteers and donations from 55 businesses. The building now hosts an Aboriginal playgroup, run by Aboriginal educators.
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