2019 AWARD NOMINATION GUIDELINES

2019

INNOVATION AWARDS & C&K EXCELLENCE

2019 C&K EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION AWARDS Nominations are now open for the 2019 C&K Excellence and Innovation Awards. These awards recognise outstanding practice and innovation in early childhood education and care.

Successful nominees will be presented with their award at the Awards Dinner, at the Qld Early Education and Care Conference on Saturday 29 June 2019. For more information about the 2019 Conference and the C&K Excellence and Innovation Awards Dinner click here.

Award categories • Reconciliation

• Community Leadership

• Education and Care Excellence

• Safety and Wellbeing

• Professional Excellence

• Emeritus Professor Mary Mahoney AO Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Care

Who?• C&K Branch services

• C&K Affiliate services (including Management Committees)

• C&K Central employees or teams

• C&K individual employees

Nominees can self-nominate or a nomination may be submitted on someone’s behalf. All of the above individuals or groups can nominate; as well as families of children attending a C&K service during 2018 – 2019.

Nominations are required to demonstrate excellence and innovation, and how they (or the nominee) have gone above and beyond what is expected. All nominees must consistently behave in a manner reflective of C&K’s values Integrity, Respect, Collaboration, Courage and Safety in all that they do.

Why?• Recognise or be recognised for innovation and outstanding practice

• Thank the people who have made a difference

• Establish a reputation for exceptional practice

How?The ‘C&K Excellence and Innovation Awards’ online nomination form must be submitted by Friday 1 March 2019. Please use the criteria for each award as a guide. Nominations should be no more than 2000 words. If applicable, attach supporting documentation e.g. photos, video clips, curriculum documentation, testimonials or media clips.

There are two different nomination forms:

• If you are an employee, nominate here

• If you are a family, nominate here. File uploads are not mandatory for family nominations.

Please complete the online nomination form in one sitting, as there is no option to save.

Entry conditions • Nominations are assessed by a panel of judges appointed by C&K and assessed as per the

outlined criteria.

• All nominations will become the property of The Crèche and Kindergarten Association Limited trading as C&K and will not be returned to entrants.

• The judging panel may ask nominees to provide additional information concerning their nomination.

• Nominees may be interviewed on camera and the footage used to showcase the service during the awards ceremony and/or in the public arena including social media.

• Nominees must be willing to participate in publicity activities and may be required to provide photographs or other materials for promotional purposes.

• Winners may be put forward for additional awards through external associations; representing C&K.

• Information in entries may be reproduced for promotional purposes.

• Nominations that are misleading or include activities that do not comply with Queensland law and/or C&K governance will be withdrawn from the nomination process.

• Nominees must have a proven good work performance record.

• An individual, service or business unit may be entered in any number of categories.

• Judges may choose to assess a nomination against other award categories if they deem it is more suitable in a different award.

• It is recommended to check with the nominee or any other related service member prior to nominating should the nomination contain sensitive information.

• All decisions by the judging panel are final and no further correspondence will be entered into.

• A winner from the previous year will be exempt from winning the following year (however can apply and be successful bi-yearly).

• Finalists (max. top 3) will be announced via Facebook and email prior to the Awards night.

KEY DATES

Date ActivityNovember 2018 Nominations Open

Friday 1 March 2019 Nominations Close

Saturday 29 June 2019 Award Presentation Dinner

QUESTIONSIf you have a question regarding the nomination form or wish to advise the judging panel of a matter concerning your nomination, please email ckawards@candk.asn.au or call Corinne Nixon (07 3513 2509).

RECONCILIATION AWARD This award recognises an individual (or group) who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and enactment to reconciliation.

A nomination may relate to:• A Reconciliation program, project or initiative

• Advocacy work

• Development of Reconciliation Action Plans

• Community collaborations

CriteriaNominations are required to demonstrate:

• Innovative and exceptional practice demonstrating impact

• Leadership and interpersonal skills

• C&K Values – Respect, Collaboration, Integrity, Courage and Safety

Nomination questions Nominations are required to answer the questions below.

1. Name/describe the program, activity or initiative including how this was implemented.

2. How did this activity or initiative have impact- who has benefitted from this and how?

3. How did this individual or group exemplify C&K values during this activity or initiative?

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD This award recognises an individual (or group) who has gone beyond what is expected to lead, innovate, advocate, or support children, families, community and/or C&K. This award relates to broader connections with community or beyond.

A nomination may relate to• A program, project or initiative involving community. This may include children, families,

broader community, staff team, other C&K representatives.

• A family and/or community engagement or initiative with a specific purpose and outcome. This may relate to Inclusion or another area of focus.

• A program, project or initiative that responded to the needs of children/families experiencing disadvantage.

• Partnership work and broader collaboration to address a specific need or innovative solution.

CriteriaNominations are required to demonstrate:

• Innovative and exceptional practice demonstrating impact

• Leadership and interpersonal skills

• C&K Values – Respect, Collaboration, Integrity, Courage and Safety

Nomination questionsNominations are required to answer the questions below.

1. Name/describe the program, activity or initiative including how this was implemented.

2. How did the individual or group go beyond what is expected to understand and address an area of need or innovative solution?

3. How did this activity or initiative have impact - who or what benefitted from this and how?

4. How did this individual or group exemplify C&K values during this activity or initiative?

EDUCATION AND CARE EXCELLENCE AWARD This award recognises an individual (or group) who has gone beyond what is expected to lead and/ or implement an innovative early education and care program, activity or initiative.

A nomination may relate to• Demonstrated excellence or innovation in pedagogy and curriculum.

• A new and innovative early childhood education program, project or approach that improved outcomes for an individual child, children, families or educator team.

• Participation and influence in early education and care policy and research.

CriteriaNominations are required to demonstrate:

• Innovative and exceptional practice

• Outstanding early childhood education and care

• Demonstrated impact- who benefitted and how?

• C&K Values – Respect, Collaboration, Integrity, Courage and Safety

Nomination questions Nominations are required to answer the questions below.

1. Describe the program, activity or initiative including implementation.

2. How did this program, activity or initiative significantly improve a child’s/children’s, service delivery, organisational or broader sector outcomes?

3. How did this individual or group exemplify C&K values during this program, activity or initiative?

PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD This award recognises an individual (or group) who has gone beyond what is expected in demonstrating professional practice.

A nomination may relate to• Educational Leadership

• Advocacy

• Leadership, management and governance

• Implementing an innovative project to address a specific need

• A new or beginning teacher or educator with exceptional skills

• A Professional Excellence project

CriteriaNominations are required to demonstrate:

• Innovative and exceptional practice

• Outstanding professionalism and commitment

• How did this professional work have impact- who benefitted and how?

• C&K Values – Respect, Collaboration, Integrity, Courage and Safety

Nomination questions Nominations are required to answer the questions below.

1. Describe the program, activity or initiative including implementation.

2. How did this person or program, activity or initiative significantly improve a child’s/children’s, service delivery, organisational or broader sector outcomes?

3. How did this individual or group exemplify C&K values during this program, activity or initiative?

SAFETY AND WELLBEING AWARD This award recognises the work of an individual or group who provides consistently high standards of safety/wellbeing awareness and practice. Safety relates to every aspect of our work with children and adults alike extending to both physical and emotional safety and wellbeing. The winner of this award will demonstrate exemplary safety and/or wellbeing practices and seek to influence others to establish a strong ‘safety/wellbeing aware’ culture that recognises the importance of balancing risk taking with safety and wellbeing awareness.

The nomination may relate to• A new idea, creative solution or approach not previously or commonly used in a service, to

address a workplace wellbeing and/or safety issue.

• How a solution was developed in consultation with others at the service and, if appropriate, external organisations.

• The demonstration of the creative use of resources as teaching tools.

• The effectiveness of the solution in improving safety and wellbeing at the service, as well as broader nomination if relevant.

• The demonstration of the leadership, commitment, and enthusiasm of the nominee/s in implementing a strong safety and wellbeing culture.

CriteriaNominations are required to demonstrate:

• Innovative and exceptional practice.

• Exceptional safety awareness and culture.

• C&K Values – Respect, Collaboration, Integrity, Courage and Safety.

Nomination Questions Nominations are required to answer the questions below.

1. How does the employee/service develop and support risk taking while maintaining a culture of safety and wellbeing which supports children, families and employees within the everyday operation of the service?

2. How does the service and/or employee engage with the community to create a positive and effective ‘safety aware’ or ‘wellbeing’ culture?

3. Demonstrate how the employee/service is actively and consistently striving for improvements in safety and wellbeing.

EMERITUS PROFESSOR MARY MAHONEY AO AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE AWARD This award acknowledges an individual or service whose dedication, persistence and outstanding performance typifies C&K excellence and C&K values of Integrity, Respect, Collaboration, Courage and Safety in their everyday work and/or through a program, activity or initiative.

It is not required to nominate for this award as this is chosen from the pool of award winners.