G8 Education has today announced the winners of its National Standout Educator Awards, celebrating six exceptional team members who exemplify excellence in early childhood education and care.
The annual awards recognise educators for their outstanding contributions across six key categories: Safety, Sustainability, Community Engagement, Family Engagement, Mentoring, and Outstanding Practice.
Winners were nominated by their peers and leaders, reflecting the profound impact they have made on children, families, and their communities.
G8 Education’s 2024 National Standout Educator Award Winners are:
| Award category | Name | Centre | Suburb | State |
| Safety | Jyoti Dange | Creative Garden Early Learning | Berwick | Victoria |
| Sustainability | Sharmin Sultana | Community Kids | Ingleburn | New South Wales |
| Community Engagement | Natalie Italiano | Community Kids | Austral | New South Wales |
| Family Engagement | Telesia Sakaria | Community Kids | Heatley | Queensland |
| Mentoring | Ashley Kovac | Community Kids | Sunbury | Victoria |
| Outstanding Practice | Padmashree Sharma | Greenwood | Burwood East | Victoria |
G8 Education CEO Pejman Okhovat said the award winners showed that G8 team members really were living and breathing the company’s purpose of building the foundations for learning for life.
“Each of these remarkable educators have demonstrated unwavering dedication to their roles, embodying G8 Education’s values of passion, innovation, dedication, compassion, and integrity,” he said.
“They have set a high standard in early childhood education and care, and their achievements have inspired us all.”
Recognised for her commitment to Safety, award winner Jyoti Dange from Creative Garden Early Learning Berwick said she was humbled by the recognition.
“Winning this award is deeply meaningful because it reflects my commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for children and my colleagues,” Jyoti said.
“Safety goes beyond physical measures; it’s about fostering emotional security and inclusivity; this recognition inspires me to continue embedding safety into every aspect of our care setting.”
Natalie Italiano from Community Kids Austral received the award for Community Engagement, due to Natalie emphasising the importance of fostering local connections.
“Building relationships with our community enriches children’s learning experiences and fosters their sense of belonging,” Natalie said.
“Seeing the smiles on children’s faces, the excitement from families, and the love from locals drives me to create fun and memorable learning opportunities.”
In the Mentoring category, Ashley Kovac from Community Kids Sunbury Early Education Centre was celebrated for her leadership and ability to inspire others.
Ashley said she was overwhelmed with emotion when her name was announced.
“Mentoring in early childhood education is about inspiring confidence, fostering professional growth, and empowering educators to shape young minds with intention and care.
“Together with my team, we’ve embraced program changes, refined documentation, and critically reflected on practices to ensure positive outcomes for children, educators, and families.
“When my name was announced, I was overwhelmed with a mix of pride, gratitude, and disbelief that my work had been recognised so meaningfully.”
The other award winners were Sharmin Sultana from Community Kids Ingleburn Early Education Centre, who was honoured for her contributions to Sustainability, Telesia Sakaria from Community Kids Heatley who was recognised for her outstanding work in Family Engagement, and Padmashree Sharma from Greenwood Burwood East who was recognised for Outstanding Practice, highlighting her dedication to driving excellence in pedagogy and practice.
G8 Education congratulates all the award winners for their incredible achievements and extends its gratitude to the entire network of educators who work tirelessly to shape young lives and support families every day.