We’re delighted to announce the finalists for the 2025 Victorian Early Years Awards.
This year, 26 finalists have been selected. All finalists are in the running to receive an award at the ceremony on Thursday 6 November 2025. We congratulate each of them on this outstanding achievement.
Celebrating 20 years this year, the awards recognise early years professionals for their tireless efforts to improve the lives of Victorian children.
About the 2025 finalists
The achievements of this year’s finalists reflect the huge amount of work happening across the sector to support children’s lifelong education journey.
This ranges from a network connecting educators, allied health professionals, community representatives and families to support collaboration, professional learning and relationship-building, through to a food program making hands-on learning and family wellbeing part of everyday practice.
This year’s finalists in the early childhood teacher category are:
- Megan Hancock, Southern Rise Children’s Centre
- Larissa Hayes, Monash Vale Early Learning Centre
- Hannah Stephen, The Honeypot Early Learning Centre.
The educator of the year finalists are:
- Sandra Houlahan, Shine Bright Elmore Kindergarten
- Jinali Amaya Sooriyaarachchi, Charming Cherubs Early Learning Centre
- Akiko Yamazaki-Edwards, Dobson Kindergarten.
To learn more about the finalists and their achievements across the 9 award categories, visit the Victorian Early Years Awards web page.
Expert panels selected the finalists after a thorough shortlisting and judging process.
All winners will receive grants of $15,000 towards professional development, or to further grow their program or initiative. A separate Minister’s Award winner will be selected by the Minister for Children, Hon Minister Lizzie Blandthorn MP, from finalists across all categories as a special commendation.
Find out more
For more information, refer to Victorian Early Years Awards.
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