Northern Territory Education and Care Awards
The Northern Territory Education and Care Awards were established by the Department of Education and Training in 2013.
The awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of early childhood and outside school hours educators and services who deliver quality learning opportunities, are innovative in their approach and demonstrate exceptional commitment to achieving quality outcomes for Northern Territory children and their families.
Award categories
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.
Fostering inclusion, engagement and participation in early childhood education and care is the theme for the 2025 Outstanding Education and Care Program Award. This award seeks to celebrate services who have demonstrated excellence in this area as part of their service provision.
All finalists will receive a framed certificate and 2 free registrations to the 2025 Little People Big Dreams Conference to be held on Saturday 11 October 2025.
The winning service or program will also receive a trophy and a $2,000 cash prize to contribute to the professional development of their service staff.
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 2025 Little People Big Dreams Conference to be held on Saturday 11 October 2025.
Winners will also receive a trophy and $1,500 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.