MEDIA RELEASE - Sutherland Shire Council’s Early Education Centres recognised among state’s best

They are held in high esteem by local families and have nurtured generations of Sutherland Shire youngsters, and now Sutherland Shire Council operated Early Education Centres and staff have also been recognised as among the state’s best, having recently been named as finalists for a host of peak industry awards.

Council’s Early Education Centres are in contention for four major awards as part of the 2024 NSW Excellence in Early Childhood Education Awards, recognising an array of programs and staff initiatives that have been introduced to provide children with a well-rounded start to their educational development.

The nominated programs and staff across Council’s Early Education Centres who were selected as finalists in the awards include:

  • Fauna Place Early Education Centre, named as a finalist in the 'Excellence in Australian History & Culture' category for their holistic approach to embedding Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island culture in their educational program,
  • Bradman Road Early Education Centre, named as a finalist in the 'Excellence in Children's Wellbeing & Health' category for their innovative sports program,
  • Chefs working across Council’s Early Education Centres, singled out as finalists in the 'Excellence, Food & Menu Design' category for their buddy mentoring program and collaboration with children; and,
  • Sutherland Shire Council Children’s Services Inclusion Project Officer Clare Smith, named as a finalist in the 'Excellence in Inclusivity Practices' category for her extensive work across all centres in support of culturally inclusive practices.

Sutherland Shire Council CEO Clare Phelan said she was delighted to see the broad range of programs which had been selected among the finalists for the awards, saying it was fitting recognition of the exceptional holistic care that was provided across Council’s Early Education Centres.

“Council’s Early Education Centres have a well-deserved reputation throughout our community for the wonderful, nurturing environment they offer to children in their care, so it’s fantastic to see that this is also readily acknowledged within the industry,” Ms Phelan said.

“Our early childhood centres are extremely well regarded, with places at the centres highly sought after due to the reputation they have earned for providing a welcoming educational environment in which children are supported to build their developmental skills and start out on a lifelong love of learning.

“I’m incredibly proud of the outstanding achievement all the staff at our early education centres have collectively achieved in being named as finalists for these awards, which comes as fitting recognition of the outstanding standards of education and care our staff deliver.”

For more information on the educational opportunities provided at Sutherland Shire Council’s 11 Early Education Centres, parents are encouraged to book a tour by contacting staff within the Children’s Services team by phoning (02) 9710 0466.