Leader In Excellence Award Winners – Aspire Berwick Waters!
At our 2024 Aspire Awards Gala, Aspire Berwick Waters was announced as the winner of Aspire’s Leader in Excellence Award. Sponsored by Escape Group, this award was awarded to a centre that has successfully developed and embedded a community or family partnership celebrating a culture of excellence. This recognition highlights the team’s commitment to fostering strong relationships with families, ensuring that community is at the heart of their service.
We spoke with Berwick Water’s Centre Manager Sashika Randombaarachchi and Head of Curriculum Shamila Sinnathamby about how the team has fostered strong community connections and relationships with their families and what winning this award means to the Berwick Waters team.
Our approach to community connection is unique, rooted in the belief that 'it takes a village to raise a child'. This philosophy has guided our ongoing journey, and we've worked tirelessly to reach the strong position we hold today.
Fostering strong community connections at Berwick Waters has been a priority, and we achieve this through collaborative events, hands-on activities, and sustained partnerships with the community.
For us, community at Berwick Waters means creating a safe, nurturing environment where children, families, and educators feel valued and supported. It's about building partnerships based on trust and mutual respect, which enriches children's learning and offers families a strong support network. This sense of community extends beyond our centre—through collaborations with local organisations, we connect children to the world around them, making them feel they're an integral part of something larger.
Every conversation matters. We have built family connections through constant reflection, follow-ups, and feedback we take on board for our continued improvement. Living in a multicultural society, we understand how important it is for children to recognise their extended family. We support our families in connecting interpersonally so they feel at home away from home when they step into Aspire Berwick Waters.
This year we have been rated as Exceeding the National Quality Standards, which has been a significant achievement for all of us as a team. We are the first Aspire Centre to achieve this milestone, and it is our promise to the children, families, educators, and the community to maintain this rating and become excellent. In the Aspire Award Gala 2024, we were awarded a Leader in Excellence in Team award, which made this year extra special.
Our employee retention has been zero for the past two years, and we are a close-knit team. One common thing is having a family that supports us in our journey. The support we receive from this highlights our team's dedication. What I love most about the people I work with is their genuine passion and unwavering commitment to positively impacting the lives of children and families. Each team member brings unique strengths—from creativity in planning engaging activities to the empathy and patience they show in daily interactions with children and families.
Our shared values and collective commitment to go above and beyond makes our team unique. Knowing that a shared vision unites us for the children and families we serve makes each day fulfilling and fuels our drive for continuous improvement.
A true testament to our team's dedication is our achievement of an Exceeding Rating and the Leader in Excellence Award this year. Every team member played an integral role in reaching these milestones, showcasing our commitment to exceptional standards and excellence in all that we do.
Winning this award has further solidified our commitment to maintaining high-quality standards. We will continue to support our high-performing teams and nurture kind-hearted, beautiful minds for the future.
Winning the Leader in Excellence Award has profoundly impacted the Berwick Waters team. It reinforces our commitment to high standards and validates the hard work we put into providing quality education and care. This recognition strengthens our pride in our work and brings a renewed sense of purpose, motivating each team member to continue pushing boundaries and enhancing our programs.
After their amazing year and the first Aspire centre to receive the “Exceed” rating, there is no doubt that the Berwick Wates team was a deserving winner of this award. Congratulations again to the team, and if you’d like to learn more about the centre, enquire now here.
