Double award honour

Northern Schools Early Years board members, from left, Pamela Streete, CEO Sigi Hyett, Val Kariatiana and Lynne Gunning. (Damjan Janevski) 373539_02

Gerald Lynch

The Northern Schools Early Years Cluster (NSEYC) has won two 2023 Victorian Early Years Awards.

The NSEYC, a not-for-profit early years management organisation, won the Improving Access and Participation in Early Learning Award, for its fast-tracking of 15 hours of kindergarten for children at risk.

This involves delivering 15-hours of funded kindergarten for three-year-olds across each of its 15 kindergarten services, including Bethal and Meadows primary school kindergartens, Broadmeadows Preschool and Dallas, Upfield and Holy Child kindergartens.

As part of its commitment to improving access and participation, the Northern Schools Early Years Cluster Inc. is already delivering 15-hours of free kindergarten for 3-year-olds across each of its 15 kindergarten services.

The cluster also took out the Minister’s Award, a special commendation awarded by the Early Childhood Minister.

NSEYC chief executive Sigi Hyett said she and the whole team was incredibly proud to win the awards.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have received not one but two of the Victorian Early Years Awards,” she said.

“Both of these awards are a wonderful recognition of the amazing work of our teams, partners, families and children at the NSEYC.

“As a non for profit organisation who purpose is ‘ To Love a Life of Learning and Living’, we are extremely proud of our achievements and it is a privilege to contribute to developing quality education programs for children in our community.

“The prize money will be used to continue supporting quality education and care for our youngest citizens and leaders.”