Early childhood education and care sector united in dedication and celebration
The Northern Territory early childhood education and care sector continues to place quality and safety at the forefront of service provision with dedication and commitment to continuous improvement being a pillar for early childhood educators and service providers.
Last Friday, we were proud to support Child Australia in celebrating excellence in the sector at the Early Childhood Education and Care Awards.
The awards night took place at DoubleTree by Hilton in Darwin’s CBD and recognised the exceptional individuals and services that contribute to the early learning and development of children across the Territory.
This year, more than 80 nominations were received, with finalists representing the highest standards of care, innovation and impact across the sector, shaping bright futures for the Territory’s youngest children and their families.
Congratulations to the 2026 NT Education and Care Awards winners:
- Outstanding Aboriginal Educator: Lucy Pedwell – Yarralin Preschool
- Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher: Lauren Brown – Rona Glynn Preschool
- Outstanding Educator: Starzia Fowler – Kentish Early Learning Centre Moulden
- Outstanding Leader: Beth O’Brien – Roper Gulf Regional Council
- Outstanding Education and Care Program: Rona Glynn Preschool
On Saturday, following the awards, our Early Childhood Education and Care team (ECEC), along with the Quality Education and Care NT team, attended Child Australia’s Little People, Big Dreams Conference.
The teams took part in professional development sessions and hosted vendor stalls.
The ECEC team also took the opportunity to launch the new KidSafe NT Fencing Fact Sheet and Guide to Safe Play. These new resources give educators and service providers comprehensive information and instruction on engaging children in safe, play-based learning environments, as well as practical instruction on performing risk assessments and play-space inspections.
To see the full resources, go to the Northern Territory Government website.
