Team members from every corner of the Aspire community came together on Saturday the 13th of October to celebrate the Aspire Awards Gala. It was truly a night to remember, and a fantastic way commemorate the incredible talent within the company.
The Crown Aviary was full of laughter, chatter and hugs as team members across Victoria and Australia checked into the event. It was especially wonderful to see the teams from Bendigo, Kennington and White Hills, as well as the team from Baldivis in WA.
Aspire would also like to thank the Aspire Awards Gala sponsors, who kindly came along and supported the awards.
Shortly after mingling, guests took their seats and the ceremony began. MCed by the fantastic Growth and Business Strategy Manager Simone Andrews, we started the evening’s proceedings with a Welcome to Country by the children at Aspire Atherstone. From there we had a moving speech from both Simone and Aspire’s Director Sam Rutecki, celebrating the year’s achievements and growth.
After that we got to the most exciting part of the evening, the awards ceremony.
The first award was the Aspire Rising Star Award, given to a trainee who exemplifies Aspire’s vision of “Connect, Learn, Grow”. Isabella Scammell-Mennen from Aspire Bendigo, Kennington was the winner of this award. Her team cited “Her strong work ethic and exceptional teamwork skills have been truly impressive.”
Then we announced the awards for Most Valuable Educator and Assistant Educator of the Year. The Most Valuable Educator went to Sukirat Sidhu from Aspire Thornhill Park, due to her popularity among parents and children, along with her ability to lead her room effectively. Assistant Educator of the Year went to Mili Sinha from Wollert, who has been at the centre since it opened in 2022. Milli’s respectful, supportive nature and dedication to her responsibilities make her a highly regarded and appreciated team member
Bella Estate’s Lakshmi Murali won the Room Leader of the Year Award, which went to someone who “has transformed their classroom into an incredible environment for learning". Lakshmi is an enthusiastic and hardworking educator, known for her professionalism and strong knowledge of planning,
Aspire’s Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Keerthi Somashakara from Aspire Berwick Waters. This award celebrates an outstanding Early Childhood Teacher who has implemented an innovative Kindergarten program. Keerthi excels in creating inclusive, engaging learning environments, and fostering strong relationships with families, the community, and local schools.
The hotly contested Chef of the Year Award had many worthy nominees. This award was given to a centre chef who embodies creativity, passion, and a deep understanding of early childhood nutrition. Their contributions support the health and well-being of the children at their centre. Sukhi Kaur from Clyde North, who has since moved into the role of Centre Support Manager, won this award. Sukhi continually creates delicious meals for the children at the centre, as well as runs popular “MasterChef” nights for centre parents.
Each Aspire Centre Manager is in the running to receive the coveted Aspire Manager of the Year Award. The Centre Managers work incredibly hard to ensure their centre runs smoothly, and that both the children and families are enjoying their Aspire experience. Suhalia Shah from Aspire Cobblebank received this accolade. Her efficient management of the centre, alongside creating a warm and collaborative environment, made her a deserving winner.
Lastly, the final individual award was for the Support Team Member of the Year. This award is presented to a member of the Head Office team who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and effort in supporting services to achieve their goals. Aspire’s Business Project Manager Amber D’alessandro received this award as she consistently goes beyond her responsibilities proactively and selflessly.
After a short break, the three group award winners were announced!
The first award, the Leader in Innovation, recognises a service for implementing a program that fosters a culture of creativity. Due to their innovative Piazza Project, Aspire Bella Estate collected this award.
Next was Aspire’s Leader in Excellence Award. Aspire Berwick Waters won this award because of their team’s commitment to fostering strong relationships with families. The Berwick Waters team ensures that the community is at the heart of their service through their events and programs.
Finally, Sam once again took the stage to announce which centre had won the Aspire Centre of the Year Award. This prestigious award is given to centre that has successfully embedded a culture of collaboration and teamwork. This centre excels in every category to provide the best possible education and care to all families. Aspire announced Aspire Early Education Clyde North as the Centre of the Year! Congratulations to Centre Manager Shashika Kuruppu and the entire team for their much-deserved win.
Everyone then hit the dance floor to let loose and show off their grooviest dance moves! Meanwhile, check out the gallery below to see the outstanding Aspire team celebrating at the Aspire Awards Gala.
The Aspire Awards Gala was truly an incredible night of recognising the immense talent of our people and centres. We can’t wait to celebrate again, bigger and better next year!