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Providing high standards of early childhood education and care together.
C&K is proud to announce the winners and finalists of our 2025 Awards, recognising the outstanding educators, teams, and centres who bring high-quality early childhood education and care to life across Queensland every day.
The winners were announced at the 2025 C&K Gala Awards Night, held on Friday, 25 July at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane. Presented by Modern Teaching Aids, the Awards Night was a highlight of the 2025 C&K Conference. Proudly supported by Winc Education, the conference brought together over 765 early childhood professionals, researchers, and sector leaders over the two days to reflect on this year’s theme: Joy.
This year’s award recipients and finalists embody the spirit of Joy, bringing it to life in their practice, their relationships with children and families, and their commitment to creating vibrant, inclusive learning communities.
C&K Bayview Kindergarten and Preschool Director and Educational Leader Rebecca Walsh has been named the winner of the 2025 Winc Education Curious Mindset Award, in recognition of her outstanding leadership in environmental education and global citizenship, underpinned by deep listening and child-led inquiry.
Rebecca has embedded sustainability and care for Country into Bayview’s program since 2014, using children’s curiosity and community connections to drive real-world impact. From foreshore excursions and Ghost Net-inspired art to anti-littering campaigns and advocacy with local council, her work empowers children as environmental citizens. Her leadership is grounded in cultural responsiveness, critical reflection, and deep listening to children, First Nations voices, and the environment itself.
“Through engagement in their surrounds and community, children will discover, connect with and act responsibly in their environments,” Rebecca said. “That’s what drives our work.”
The centre's work now focuses on embedding the Global Citizenship elements of caring for Country and ethical decision-making, with children joyfully leading the way.
Pictured above: 2025 Winc Education Curious Mindset Award, Winc Representative Kim Willis & Rebecca Walsh from Bayview Kindergarten Association.
Other Brisbane-based finalists included:
These centres were recognised for their outstanding commitment to children, families, and community partnership, and for delivering early childhood education and care with joy, inclusivity, expertise, creativity, and intention.
“At C&K, we know that high-quality early childhood education and care doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a deliberate choice and a deeply relational practice,” said C&K CEO Dr Sandra Cheeseman. “These awards are about recognising the educators, teams and services who make that choice every day and go further – to listen, to lead, to partner with families and communities, and to ensure every child feels safe, seen, and supported to flourish.”
2025 C&K Award Winners
Department of Education Inspiring Impact Award – Lynette Harding, C&K Coomera Community Kindergarten
Winc Education Curious Mindset Award – Rebecca Walsh, Bayview Kindergarten
Winc Education Playful Pedagogy Award – Natalie McDougall, C&K Slade Point Community Kindergarten
HESTA Reconciliation in Action Award – C&K Kirwan Community Kindergarten
C&K CEO Award – Kate Hinschen, C&K Ingham Community Kindergarten
MTA Emeritus Professor Mary Mahoney Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education and Care – C&K Moranbah Community Kindergarten
Pictured above: 2025 C&K Award Winners: Lynette Harding, Madison Pease, Stephanie Oliver, Ashleigh Brown, Rebecca Walsh, C&K CEO Dr Sandra Cheeseman, Kylie Krawczyk, Danielle Davies, Kate Hinschen & Natalie McDougall.
For media inquiries, please contact: media@candk.asn.au
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