2025 Education and Care Awards Gala
The Early Childhood Australia (ECA) ACT committee is pleased to be organising the 2025 Education and Care Awards Gala on Friday 7 November 2025. This event will promote, recognise and celebrate the exceptional work undertaken by the ACT education and care sector. Join us for the award ceremony with a three-course dinner and live entertainment.
The awards component of this event showcases the commitment, innovation and achievement of individuals and services within our sector. Nominations for the awards will open soon. Finalists for each award category will receive a complimentary ticket to the awards gala and winners will be announced on the evening.
Venue: Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, 92-96 Corinna St, Phillip
Date: Friday 7 November 2025
Time: 6:30 pm–11:30 pm
Dress: After five/Cocktail
| Category | Full Rate |
| Member Ticket | $100.00 |
| Non-Member Ticket | $112.00 |
| Group booking – Table of 10 | $1,000.00 |
All registration fees are inclusive of GST and are in Australian Dollars.
Award categories
The awards showcases the commitment, innovation and achievement of individuals and services within our sector in the following categories:
Sector Support Award
Education and care settings cannot operate without the support of key people. The people may not work directly with children or be in a leadership position, however, the contribution they make to the organisation is significant. This award will recognise and celebrate the supporters in the ACT sector.
Sector Advocacy Award
Advocacy is vital for the work undertaken by education and care professionals. There are many individuals both within education and care settings and more broadly in the ACT community who make a significant contribution to the sector and the profession through their advocacy. This award will recognise and celebrate these local achievements.
Innovation in Pedagogy and Practice Award
This award is open to individuals and services wanting to share and celebrate innovative and transformative pedagogy and practice.
Rising Star Award
This award is open to individuals who are at the early stages of their career in the education and care profession. The award will recognise individuals working in approved education and care settings and may also acknowledge those studying towards an approved qualification.
Educator or Early Childhood Teacher Award
This award is open to individuals employed as educators who work in a direct role with children and families. The award will celebrate the essential role that educators play, not only in the lives of children and families but also in society.
Director Award
This award is open to individuals employed in the role of director, centre manager or coordinator of an approved education and care setting located in the ACT. It will highlight the critical role played by leaders in the sector and how they drive quality within their organisations.
Educational Leader Award
Founded on the advocacy work originally undertaken by the ACT Pedagogical Leadership Network, this award is open to individuals who are currently employed in the role of educational leader.
Nominations to the 2025 Education and Care Awards Gala are open. Click here for more information and to submit your nomination.
Please subscribe to the ECA Events newsletter to stay up to date with the latest information.
Key dates
| 2025 Selection process | Key date |
| Ticket sales open | 3 March 2025 |
| Nominations open | 17 March 2025 |
| Nominations close | 23 May 2025 |
| Finalists notified and announced | 4 July 2025 |
| Interviews for finalists at ECA National Office | To be advised |
| Ticket sales close | 24 October 2025 |
| 2025 Education and Care Awards Gala | 7 November 2025 |
Sponsorship
A range of promotional opportunities is available, please contact Jantiena Batt at ecaact@earlychildhood.org.au to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
T:02 6242 1800
E: awards@earlychildhood.org.au
