The Aspires Awards
The Aspires Awards are back for 2025, and there is so much anticipation as we celebrate the amazing work teams are doing across the network. The awards are an opportunity for us to pause and reflect on the incredible work being done supporting children, families, and each other.
And this year they are even bigger and better! We’re thrilled to announce seven new awards, all based on our amazing THRIVE program that we launched in the last year. A fantastic way to celebrate centre teams even more for their great efforts throughout the year!
Just like last year’s awards, nominations are based on our Mindsets and are an opportunity to recognise the brave, positive, professional, and thoughtful actions that make our centres a delight for everyone in everything you do. The awards are again by teams and for teams.
But this year you have even more chance to win! Rather than a North and a South region – we have moved to smaller geographic territories: Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales / ACT and Queensland.
The awards now feature three categories, with 18 awards in total!
Scroll down to learn more about each award.
Click here to nominate now >
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How to Enter
Share your story:
- You can nominate yourself, your team, or another person or team.
- Your nomination is a story that captures how your nominated person or team embodies our Mindsets.
To nominate:
- Click the link below to enter and fill out the details in the online nomination form, including a written submission (up to 250 words)
To be eligible for the awards you must:
- Be a permanent or part-time team member at the time of nomination;
Be working in the category of nomination
Click here to nominate now >
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The Aspires People Awards
Centre Manager of the Year
Your leadership skills support a high performing team that maintains high-quality practice, awesome team and family experience, a safety first culture, and strong business discipline.
Assistant Centre Manager
You are a listener, collaborator, problem solver, and you empower those around you. You build strong trusted relationships with teams, families, children, and the community.
Educational Leader of the Year
You are a motivator and innovator, demonstrating great practice, or contributing to our Educational Leader network. Your leadership is felt, seen and heard.
Lead Educator / Teacher of the Year
You lead an individual learning space and mentor the Teachers and Educators in that room, supporting them to develop their practice.
Teacher of the Year
You create opportunities and connections within your community, contribute to our Teachers network, are a leader and mentor, and you have a passion to share, learn and improve.
Educator of the Year
You are a connector of children, teams, families and community. You go above and beyond, and others look to learn from and are inspired by you.
Student of the Year
You are an exceptional learner who has shown this in practice, your academic results and commitment to your studies. Your future is bright!
Chef / Cook of the Year
You are a leader, an educator, communicator, and innovator who promotes great food and nutrition ideas. Your kitchen is the heart of your Centre.
The Aspires Star Awards
Centre Team of the Year
Awarded to the Centre team that exemplifies most or all of the Guardian mindsets and works tirelessly to achieve each and every one of our guiding principles.
Support Office Star
The Support Office Star Award recognises excellence in a Support Office Role. It is someone who is amazing in supporting Centres and Teams to deliver fantastic experiences for families.
The Reconciliation Award
This team values indigenous cultural connection and has experiences and/or programs that connect their Centre community with relevant indigenous cultures. They have commenced a journey of real and lasting positive change based on reflection, cultural understanding, respect, and improvement.
The Aspires Thrive Awards
Leading My Team Excellence Award
This centre has excelled in ensuring all Lead Educators and Teachers are effectively leading their teams so they are confident with what to do and how to do it, making them feel valued and supported.
Leading the Day Excellence Award
This centre has developed excellent practice in establishing consistent rhythms and have systems in place that enable every day to feel calm, organised, and run smoothly for children, families and teams.
Leading Safety Excellence Award
This centre is displaying excellent practice by ensuring there are easy to understand systems/expectations in place, with clear roles and responsibilities, that keep children and adults safe.
Leading Relationships with Children Excellence Award
This centre is displaying excellent practice in supporting the rights, learning and development of children through strong, responsive and respectful relationships that ensure children are always safe and known by the team.
Leading Environments Excellence Award
This centre has excelled in ensuring that environments are safe, clean, well-presented and engaging for children in a way that ignites their curiosity, supports their learning, and makes this learning visible to families.
Leading the Educational Program Award
This centre is displaying excellent practice in ensuring that the educational program is planned, thoughtful, responsive and relevant to their children, and communicated effectively in
partnership with families.
Leading Relationships with Families Award
This centre has excelled in building trusting and responsive relationships with families that create authentic partnerships which benefit children, families and their team.
