Journey Early Learning Centre Durack is our Territory Winner for the NT in this year’s KindiCare Excellence Awards, with a KindiCare Rating of 9.6, and this win is so well-deserved.  

Journey ELC Durack is a warm and welcoming centre, and they have a fantastic community spirit, both inside and outside the service.  

This plays out in their quality curriculum and amazing family partnerships, and a special mention must go to their Community Connect program! 

Centre Manager, Rhianna Smith, explains that, “Community Connect means we do lots of out-the-gate excursions, including Fitness Friday walks in our local parks, a weekly grocery shop at Woolworths, croc-safety lessons at Crocodylus Park and splashy fun at Palmerston Water Park.” 

Rhianna is a proud Larrakia woman, so the children also enjoy her brilliant Bush Kinder program, which provides an Aboriginal perspective, and weaves in Larrakia learning and language.   

Rhianna also has a really positive influence when she’s in her office or on the floor, and she is a great example of what makes Journey ELC Durack so special.  

At this centre, every single person is supported to learn and grow, and in just six years, Rhianna has worked her way up from Assistant Educator in the Nursery room to Centre Manager across the service.  

She’s thankful for Journey Early Learning’s strong investment in her professional development, which has included paid after hours sessions and interstate trips for leadership learning, and says her entire team is supported to build and share their knowledge.  

Rhianna says, “This really does help the children,” and families appreciate the passion and professionalism that her team put into everything they do.  

Families also love the genuine partnerships the team actively foster with them. 

Whether the educators are transforming the centre into a haunted house for Halloween, inviting parents to a lakeside Bush Kinder experience, or simply facilitating a friendly drop-off, every shared experience is definitely appreciated.  

Rhianna says, “All our families love our educators and our centre, and we really are grateful for the chance to bring community members together and make a positive difference in early learners’ lives.” 

Rhianna and her team have already achieved a lot, which is evidenced by their 2024 KindiCare Excellence Award, but they definitely aren’t resting on their laurels! 

Instead, the team is thinking about hosting their hugely successful Kidventions community market once again. 

Back in 2021 and 2022, Journey ELC Durack brought together loads of local services for Kidventions (including mothers’ groups, inclusion support services and sporting teams), and Rhianna is keen replicate the event in 2025.  

She says, “It felt amazing for our centre to do this for the community and share the different services, and although it’s a lot of work to put this event on, we are always happy to go the extra mile for our childcare family and wider community.” 

It’s this generosity of spirit and genuine commitment that makes Journey ELC Durack the amazing place it is, and we congratulate them for coming out on top in the Top End, in this year’s KindiCare Excellence Awards.  

 

Learn more about Journey Early Learning Centre Durack 

Information correct as at 1 July 2024