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Victorian Early Years Awards nomination guide

Our nomination guide helps you nominate a colleague or yourself for a VEYA award. With the permission of family, this information includes the names of an Aboriginal person who has passed.

Award categories

There are 9 award categories in the 2024 Victorian Early Years Awards.

Improving Access and Participation in Early Learning

This award recognises one or more early childhood services and/or organisations that are taking action to promote access, ongoing participation and engagement in early learning, particularly for families experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage.

Supporting Parents to Build Their Capacity and Confidence

This award recognises one or more early childhood services and/or organisations that are taking action to support families, parents and carers to feel confident and capable in their parenting role and recognises their role as the first and most important teachers in supporting their child’s learning and development.

Creating Collaborative Community Partnerships

This award recognises a collaborative partnership between two or more early childhood services and/or organisations that are taking action to promote collaborative practice that supports and demonstrate positive outcomes for children and families.

Promoting Children’s Health and Wellbeing

This award recognises one or more early childhood services and/or organisations that are taking action to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for young children.

Continuity of Early Learning

This award recognises two or more early childhood services, schools and/or other organisations that support continuity of early learning through successful transitions.

Early Childhood Teacher of the Year

This award recognises an early childhood teacher who has demonstrated evidence-based innovation and exemplary practice in early childhood education and care.

Their nomination will demonstrate how they have made a significant contribution to the development and delivery of high-quality early childhood education programs and/or achieved significant improvements in children’s learning and development outcomes.

The Emeritus Professor Collette Tayler Excellence in Educational Leadership Award

This award recognises an educational leader, early childhood service, or an approved service provider that has led their educators and teachers to significantly improve the quality of their learning and teaching practices, with a focus on intentional teaching practices to achieve improved outcomes for Victorian children and their families.

Aunty Rose Bamblett Koorie Early Years Legacy Award

This award recognises one or more early childhood service/s that are demonstrating holistic service provision that engages Aboriginal children and families. The service builds Aboriginal perspectives and amplifies the voices and experiences of Koorie families and local community members through partnerships that enable self-determination.

Educator of the Year Award

This award recognises an early childhood educator who has demonstrated innovative and exemplary practice in early childhood education and care. Their nomination will demonstrate how they have made a significant contribution to the delivery of high-quality early childhood education programs and/or achieved significant improvements in children’s learning and development outcomes.

The Minister’s Award

This is awarded by the Minister for Children from the pool of finalists for an application that demonstrates exemplary practice and exceptional achievement in improving outcomes for young children.

Finalists of each award category are automatically eligible for the Minister’s Award, which is selected by the Minister for Children. Applicants do not nominate for this category.

Nominations and referees

Selection criteria and eligibility requirements

Assessment process

Free nomination writing assistance

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Resources

Please refer to any of the resources listed below when preparing your application form to support your nomination.

Further information

If you have any queries in regard to the 2024 Victorian Early Years Awards, including eligibility, categories, process and the online platform, please email: early.years.awards@education.vic.gov.au.

For information on previous award winners, please visit our Honour Roll page.

Read the Victorian Early Years Awards Terms and Conditions.

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