In celebration of Early Childhood Educators Day, we want to celebrate those educators in our community who are trailblazing a path to support Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander perspectives in their practise.

Nominations are open to Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Early Childhood Educators, please make sure to check the category you are nominating educators in.

All nominated educators will be given the opportunity to highlight their practise via a social media takeover of the Koori Curriculum social media accounts.

Entries will open on the 4th of August, and you will have to submit your entry by no later than the 14th of September 2025.

Entries must include a photograph of the nominated Early Childhood Educator along with a 300-word or more blurb describing why they are nominating that Early Childhood Educator and must include their contributions to embedding Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander perspectives in their practise.

There are 6 award categories:

• First Nations Early Learning Educator of The Year: for educators who have contributed significantly to embedding Aboriginal perspectives in their centre that work in the early years space. This award is specifically for Indigenous educators. The 5 entries with the highest number of votes will be shortlisted and reviewed by the Director of the Koori Curriculum, Jessica Staines who will select the winner.

• Early Learning Educator of The Year: for educators who have contributed significantly to embedding Aboriginal perspectives in their centre that work in the early years space. This award is open to Non-Indigenous Early Childhood Educators. The 5 entries with the highest number of votes will be shortlisted and reviewed by the Director of the Koori Curriculum, Jessica Staines who will select the winner.

• First Nations Primary School Educator of The Year: for educators who have contributed significantly to embedding Aboriginal perspectives in their school that work in the primary years space. This award is specifically for Indigenous educators. The 5 entries with the highest number of votes will be shortlisted and reviewed by the Director of the Koori Curriculum, Jessica Staines who will select the winner.

• Primary School Educator of The Year: for educators who have contributed significantly to embedding Aboriginal perspectives in their school that work in the primary years space. This award is open to Non-Indigenous Early Childhood Educators. The 5 entries with the highest number of votes will be shortlisted and reviewed by the Director of the Koori Curriculum, Jessica Staines who will select the winner.

• Ally of the Year: for educators, parents, support and administration staff or partners who have significantly contributed to a school or early years’ service ability to embed Aboriginal perspectives. The 5 entries with the highest number of votes will be shortlisted and reviewed by the Director of the Koori Curriculum, Jessica Staines who will select the winner.

• Ally of the Year (Jess' Choice): for educators, parents, support and administration staff or partners who have significantly contributed to a school or early years’ service ability to embed Aboriginal perspectives. This award will be chosen from the entire pool of nominated educators and will not be dependent on vote count.

Voting will close on the 14th of September 2025. The 5 entries with the highest number of votes in each category will be shortlisted and reviewed by the Director of the Koori Curriculum, Jessica Staines who will select the winners.

The chosen winner will be announced on the 15th of September 2025. All submissions are displayed in a virtual gallery.

The winners will each receive a $200 store voucher to the Koori Curriculum store, an awards pack, digital assets for websites and social media, featured in an article in the Koori Curriculum Quarterly and the option to be featured as a masterclass presenter for the Koori Curriculum Club.

Please note: submissions must be on behalf of a nominee, self-submissions will not be accepted, duplicate submissions will be removed.