Who is eligible to receive a CeeCees award?

The Awards are open to individuals and organisations who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and made a major contribution to the NSW community owned, centre-based, early childhood sector.

Specifically, individuals and committees must be a community based preschool, mobile, long day care, occasional care or Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s service.

Nominees can be permanent or part time and will be passionate individuals and committees who ‘go the extra mile’.

Qualities of excellence will be measured against specified selection criteria and need to have been demonstrated over at least a three year period for all awards except for the Photograph Award.

ADVOCATE
The Advocate who SHINES will have:

1. a strong history of campaigning within the early childhood field;
2. enthused others about the issue/s;
3. overcome challenges or constraints to ensure social justice and inclusion within the early childhood sector;
4. helped develop other people’s advocacy skills and empowered them to act;
5. shown leadership in alerting the early childhood field of the importance of an issue for children and families;
6. influenced their community to build its capacity and make it a better place for children and their families;
7. acted to ensure change in an early childhood issue/s.
   

DIRECTOR/AUTHORISED SUPERVISOR
The Director/Authorised Supervisor who SHINES will have:

1. continually improved the quality of their centre in all areas;
2. implemented innovative practices underpinned by sound research;
3. continually acted in the best interest of children attending their centre;
4. shown that they truly understand their centre’s community and ensured that the service they lead is inclusive to all;
5. created a collaborative work environment and suppored their staff through coaching, mentoring, facilitation;
6. maintained strong and respectful relationships with families;
7. influenced their community to build its capacity and make it a better place for children and their families;
8. worked at improving their skills through further education/training and exhibited ethical behavior.
   

TEACHER
The Teacher who SHINES will have:

1. great relationships with children and their families;
2. implemented innovative programs underpinned by sound research which reflect children’s emerging skills and interests.
3. developed programs that reflect children’s individual differences and development, and is inclusive of all children;
4. inspired other staff members to excel and innovate;
5. influenced their community to build its capacity and make it a better place for children and their families;
6. worked at improving their skills through further education/training;
7. provided professional support to those newly entering the profession.
   

DIPLOMA QUALIFIED CHILD CARE WORKER
The Diploma Qualified Child Care Worker who SHINES will have:

1. in depth knowledge of child development and individual difference as shown through their practice;
2. great relationships with children and their families;
3. motivated children’s curiosity and problem solving through the provision of innovative programs;
4. created and documented innovative programs underpinned by sound research which reflect children’s emerging skills and interests;
5. shown resourcefulness and energy to enrich children’s lives;
6. developed programs that are inclusive of all children;
7. influenced their community to build its capacity and make it a better place for children and their families;
8. worked at improving their skills through further education/training.
   

CASUAL WORKER
The Casual Worker who SHINES will have:

1. shown a commitment to children’s services;
2. shown flexibility in fitting in with service staffing requirements;
3. high levels of energy, resourcefulness and competency;
4. engaged children and their families in positive ways;
5. responded sensitively and warmly to children’s cues so as to work with them in supportive ways to expand their development and knowledge of the world in which they live;
6. contributed in inspired ways within the team; and
7. worked at improving their skills through further education/training.

CHILD CARE WORKER
The Child Care Worker who SHINES will have:

1. shown high levels of energy, resourcefulness and competency;
2. engaged children and their families in positive ways;
3. responded sensitively and warmly to children’s cues so as to work with them in supportive ways to expand their development and knowledge of the world in which they live;
4. contributed positively to the room’s program;
5. contributed in inspired ways within the team;
6. continuing commitment to inclusive practice with children and families;
7. influenced their community to build its capacity and make it a better place for children and their families;
8. worked at improving their skills through further education/training.
   

COOK
The Cook who SHINES will have:

1. an imaginative repertoire to provide nutritious, varied and appealing meals within an early childhood setting that also educates families and staff about the benefits of healthy eating for children;
2. developed strong communication methods to liaise with families about their children’s changing dietary needs and have procedures in place to ensure children’s dietary requirements are met and recognised;
3. a commitment to excellence in hygiene and food safety processes;
4. a willingness to introduce children to new and exciting taste experiences in conjunction with provision of varied menus that are inclusive of all children’s family backgrounds;
5. innovative methods of ensuring links between the food served and the emergent curriculum and also involving children in the food preparation;
6. influenced their community to build its capacity and make it a better place for children and their families;
7. a commitment to ongoing training and education within their chosen profession.
   

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT OFFICER
The Administrative Support Officer who SHINES will have:

1. a highly developed understanding and commitment to continuing and improving customer service in an early
   childhood setting which includes effective and timely
   communication to families;
2. a comprehensive knowledge of organisational systems
   that includes literacy, mastery and constant improvement of office equipment, fee collection, day to day operations etc.;
3. a commitment to the early childhood sector, to their individual service and to their role as ambassador of service;
4. an awareness and willingness to implement innovative actions that improve organisational capacity;
5. a comprehensive understanding of the early childhood field;
6. influenced their community to build its capacity and make it a better place for children and their families;
7. a commitment to ongoing training and education within their chosen profession.
   

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Management Committee that SHINES will have:

1. a strong commitment to excellence in corporate governance and professional development for those who participate in the Committee;
2. a comprehensive understanding of the needs of the community in which its service is located and a continuing commitment to the provision of innovative quality children’s services that meet the needs of the children and families who use the service;
3. a thorough understanding of the role of the Management Committee which includes promotion of strong relationships with service staff and stakeholders;
4. a broad knowledge of regulatory and legislative requirements under which the service operates and a willingness to change where appropriate in order to better meet the needs of the service;
5. a demonstrated commitment to the growth and development of the service and maintenance/growth of its assets;
6. influenced its community to build the capacity and make it a better place for children and their families.
   

PHOTOGRAPH
The Photograph that SHINES will have:

1. Photograph shows a child or children in an early childhood service.
2. Photograph is a “great photo”
3. Photograph shows high quality practices
4. Photograph shows something different about children’s services
5. Photograph is accompanied by a photographic release (permission to use the photo by the parents – sample available to download from website)

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2010 CEECEES AWARDS HAVE NOW CLOSED.