Ensuring integrity of the judging process

To safeguard the integrity of the judging process, an independent organisation is appointed to coordinate the judging process each year. Independent judging panels are convened and each judge is requested to complete non-disclosure agreements to ensure the confidentiality of information received through the awards process and decisions made by the judging panel. Any conflicts of interest, perceived or actual, must also be declared immediately by the judges to allow appropriate action to be taken.

A number of policies and internal procedures are applied to ensure the integrity of the judging process and ensure transparency and fairness in decisions made by each judging panel. In summary the judging process is as follows:

  1. Each award category is supported by a selection criteria tailored to address the specific demands and requirements of the category.
  2. Each nominee will be required to provide evidence that they are actively working towards or have attained an approved qualification in order to progress to the judging process.
  3. Judges apply a rating scale to each nomination against the appropriate criteria.
  4. A consistent approach and questioning will be used with all nominations to ensure fairness and equity.
  5. Judges will review and consider all nominations individually, then consider, rank and shortlist nominees.
  6. Interviews will be held with shortlisted nominees after consulting with their referees.
  7. The judging coordinator will consult with Quality Education and Care Northern Territory (QECNT) to ensure shortlisted nominees are not subject to significant non-compliance issues.
  8. Judges will then determine the winners of each category.
  9. In the event that the judging panel is unable to decide on an award winner for a category, the decision will be deferred to the Key Stakeholder Advisory Group (KSAG).

  • Emily Pettersson

    Emily completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care in 2022. Emily is currently in the remote community of Maningrida and has been working for 4 years as a Team Leader. Living and working in a remote community has taught Emily the importance of being flexible, patient and understanding the importance of caring for children. Emily loves being able to work with a range of different people from all walks of life, which is why she finds working with children so fascinating as they are able to teach her, just as much as she is able to teach them.

    Lare Stanton

    Lare has worked in the early childhood education and care sector in the Northern Territory for 24 years. Her passion for working with Indigenous and remote families and children excelled and her endeavour to provide culturally safe learning environments and programs that nurture children in the community. Two years ago she commenced with One Tree Community Services as a Cultural Educational Leader and Trainer Assessor where she trains and mentors school-based trainees, trainees in Darwin and remote trainees in Kalkarindji, Wadeye, Katherine, Batchelor and Yarralin. Lare believes that educators are not only the lifeline and back bone of the community, but the interwoven connection of children, families, communities and society.

    Louise Cooke

    Louise has worked in the Northern Territory early childhood sector for over 20 years, in particular with families and young children living in very remote Indigenous communities. In 2018, Louise was the Palmerston and Rural regional winner of Primary Teacher of the Year for her many years working in early childhood services in remote Territory schools. Louise is extremely passionate about empowering families, communities and organisations to provide high quality early childhood programs that are culturally relevant, safe and supportive.

  • Maureen Simon

    Maureen has over 30 years of experience in the field, and has made significant strides in establishing sister centres that foster two-way learning between urban and community-based early childhood educators. Maureen has grown her reputation for her expertise in coaching and mentoring educators, and focuses on creating supportive strategies for children with diagnosed disabilities and those experiencing challenging behaviours.

    Quitaysha Thompson

    Quitaysha is a highly accomplished Gurindji woman, juggling a busy schedule as a mother or three and a dedicated manager of the Ngaliwany Purrp'ku Child and Family Centre in her hometown of Kalkaringi in the Northern Territory. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Humanitarian and Community Studies and is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Policy on a part-time basis. Her true passion lies in driving change for the betterment of community services and development, with a particular focus on early education and care. Quitaysha's dedication to her community and her unwavering drive to make a positive impact through her work is truly inspiring.

    Shelley Galbraith

    Shelley has been in the teaching space for 37 years, having enjoyed teaching a variety of ages and stages from 3-year olds to 18-year olds, with the last 14 years concentrated in the early childhood space. Apart from teaching preschool, she spent 5 years having oversight over 3 long day care centres, supporting one of them in gaining an exceeding rating in all 7 areas under the National Quality Standards. She has been an assessor with QECNT, a child development consultant with FaFT, and is now an early years advisor in the CPA Birth to Year 6 team. She has a deep passion for play based learning, being influenced by the Walker Learning Approach, Reggio Emilia and Montessori. She is deeply interested and influenced by trauma informed practice and self-regulation, having done some training with Complex Trauma Training WA and a Certificate in Early Childhood Development and Self-Reg with the MEHRIT Centre.

  • Justina Pereira

    Justina has experience in the education sector, working across early and primary years of schools as a classroom and specialist teacher, as well as in middle and senior leadership positions. Justina has lived in Darwin for over a decade. In her spare time, she volunteers in the local community. She has served on advisory committees and governance boards at local and national levels. Justina is currently employed as a lecturer at CDU and teaches in initial teacher education courses. Her areas of interest include music, the arts, early literacy, and special needs education.

    Jennifer Burks

    Jennifer has had the pleasure of living and working in the Northern Territory for over six years. She is currently the childcare director at the Maningrida Creche located in West Arnhem Land where she has been an active part in developing our future leaders and educators. Jennifer’s considers it an honour to be a judge this year and looks forward to the opportunity to give flowers where they are due for this year’s up and coming educators.

    Anna Latz

    Anna is a passionate Early Childhood Educator, with many years experience as a preschool teacher and now working as an Early Childhood Advisor. Anna believes that relationships are not only vital to quality early education and care but one of the great pleasures in teaching and learning. Anna has completed courses in coaching and leadership and was a finalist in the Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher category in the Early Childhood Awards in 2022.

  • Sue Hyde

    Sue’s career in education began as a classroom teacher, an advisory teacher with the NT Department of Education and an Assistant Principal. Since then, she has worked as a private consultant across the Northern Territory supporting parents, teachers, and childcare educators to develop their skills to assist young children’s positive behaviour. Sue has been a judge in these awards many times and feels this experience has helped her keep up to date with the developments in early childhood education. Sue is always impressed with the skill, creativity, and commitment of applicants that these awards highlight. “Being part of the judging panels on these awards rates highly on my achievements in my career”.

    Jacinta McInnerney

    Jacinta has lived and worked in the NT for over 20 years. She has extensive experience as an Educator, Educational Leader, Assistant Director, Coordinator of a mobile children’s program and Inclusion Professional with the ECA NT Inclusion Agency. Jacinta’s expertise is supporting early childhood education and care services to embed inclusive practices to support all children to grow, learn and feel connected to their culture and community. Jacinta’s passion is to mentor and inspire educators to recognise and value the experiences and individual identities of children.

    Jessica Rose

    Graduating from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood in 2014, Jessica worked in Queensland in early childhood settings before relocating to the Northern Territory. Jessica has worked in early primary settings, school leadership roles in curriculum and special education, and as a Families as First Teachers Stay-Play-Learn educator in a remote school. In 2021, Jessica was the Education and Care Award for Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher. She is currently working the Families as First Teachers Regional Program Leader for the Barkly and Central regions.

  • Dr Georgie Nutton

    Dr Georgie Nutton is a Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator for the Master of Teaching Early Childhood and Primary with the Faculty of Arts and Society, Charles Darwin University, and is a Research Fellow with the Menzies School of Health Research. Dr Nutton has led significant early childhood education and schooling research projects in the internationally, nationally and across Northern Territory. These projects span health, child protection, community services, and education. Current research projects and PhD supervision include projects and collaborations on self-regulation, executive function, inclusive education, protective behaviours and positive behaviours. Her passion is to build a more inclusive, equitable and peaceful Australia.

    Sarah Went

    Sarah is an Inclusion Professional with Early Childhood Australia NT. With 10 years of experience in the education and care sector, Sarah has held various roles, from educator, educational leader, Service Manager, to her current role as an Inclusion Professional. She has a wealth of experience in supporting and resourcing early childhood education and care services to including children with diverse needs through building the capacity and capability of educators.

    Vicki Collister

    Vicki is an early childhood teacher and has been working in the early years sector in Darwin since 2008. During this time, she has worked for the Department of Education early years including 8 years working as Teacher-in-Charge at Wagaman Preschool. Vicki is passionate about play based learning and nature pedagogy. In her correct position as FaFT Program Leader, Vicki has the capacity to support educators with pedagogical practice and parent capacity building that supports children’s learning, development and wellbeing.