Award categories

Individual award categories

There are 4 award individual award categories which are open to Northern Territory educators in long day care, family day care, kindergarten, preschool, outside school hours care, playgroups or other services catering to children aged from birth to 5 years (up to 12 years of age for OSHC). All individual award categories are open to regulated and unregulated education and care services and programs, including remote and very remote settings.

All finalists will receive a framed certificate and a free registration to the 2026 Little People Big Dreams Conference to be held on Saturday 17 October 2026.

Winners will also receive a trophy and $1500 cash prize to contribute to their professional development.

Outstanding Educator

Applies to individuals who hold or are actively working towards (50% complete) an approved certificate or diploma qualification and who consistently demonstrate exceptional behaviour and commitment to improving their skills and ensuring quality outcomes for children.

Outstanding Aboriginal Educator

Applies to individuals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, who hold or are actively working towards an approved qualification and who consistently demonstrate exceptional behaviour and commitment to improving their skills and ensuring quality outcomes for children.

Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher

Applies to individuals who hold an ACECQA approved Early Childhood Teacher Qualification and are committed to delivering quality practice and achieving positive outcomes for children.

Outstanding Leader

Applies to individuals in leadership roles who have worked in the education and care sector in Australia for more than three years, hold an approved qualification, demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities and contribute to continuous quality improvement in service/program delivery.

Outstanding Education and Care Program Award

The award applies to Northern Territory education and care services and programs in long day care, family day care, kindergarten, preschool, outside school hours care, playgroups or other services catering to children aged from birth to 5 years (up to 12 years of age for OSHC). It is open to regulated and unregulated education and care services and programs, including remote and very remote settings.

'Nurturing a child safe culture in early childhood education and care' is the theme for the 2026 Outstanding Education and Care Program Award.

This award seeks to celebrate NT services that demonstrate outstanding commitment to embedding a strong child‑safe culture. It recognises initiatives that go beyond meeting minimum standards and instead create environments where children and young people feel genuinely safe, respected, and empowered.

This category highlights services that demonstrate leadership in strengthening child safety through innovative practices, culturally responsive approaches, and meaningful engagement with children, families, and communities, and recognises organisations that embed child safety as a lived value across all aspects of service and program delivery.