Educator of the Year 2017 Awarded
Monika Gamble wins Educator/Nanny of the Year Award 2017
Monika Gamble from Wild Things Ltd. Homebased ECE Service Dunedin, is delighted to be named the NZ Homebased ECE
Association Educator of the Year 2017 at the New Zealand Homebased Association Conference Award Ceremony on Saturday
23rd September 2017. Ariana Moss from Barnardos KidsStart Homebased ECE Service Invercargill was named as runner up.
The awards, organised by the New Zealand Homebased Early Childhood Education Association, celebrate the quality teaching
educators and nannies provide in homes and communities throughout New Zealand. The 2017 judging panel consisted of Sonja
Rosewarne (Open Polytechnic), Justine Mason (CORE Education) and Judy Layland (Otago University).
“Monika demonstrates the high calibre and dedication of the educators who provide homebased childcare in New Zealand,”
says Susan Phua, President of the Association.
Rothbury Insurance Broker is proud to sponsor the Educator or Nanny of the Year Award for 2107. This is an opportunity
to recognise and celebrate the excellence that educators bring to their role and the important contribution that
educators and nannies make towards home based education.
Susan Phua says “we can see the benefits for children of receiving childcare and education in natural home based
settings and smaller groups. We believe homebased ECE targets a specific need in the sector that is vital to
establishing close relationships and meeting the needs of the individual child so well. The work the educators and
nannies put in is crucial to the children, and we feel that this Award encourages and acknowledges excellence in home
based early childhood education.
The awards - part of the Homebased Childcare Association’s Annual Conference - were held at the Brentwood Hotel in
Wellington on Saturday last. Monika was presented with a perpetual trophy in recognition of her outstanding work with
young children, and both recipients were also awarded a cash prize.
Debbie Mair, Visiting Teacher from Wild Things Ltd says: “Monika is appreciated by the parents who have children in her
care, as someone who knows their children well. The parents readily get to see the quality education programme in
action. Monika is well respected by her colleagues as someone who is reflective in her practice and in tune with the
children, and incorporating best practice to foster children’s learning’.
Of the runner up Ariana Moss, the judges said, “Ariana’s nomination foregrounded her commitment to families and children
attending her setting, in particular to their cultural diversity, and her commitment to bicultural curriculum. Families
put a high value on this.”
The award was introduced five years ago, as the Association felt it was time that the people who use and value homebased
childcare and education had a voice and a means to recognise and celebrate the educators and nannies who do such great
work with their children.
ENDS