Congratulations Cerri and Debbie, Victorian Early Years Awards Winners

Two members of our team won awards at the 21st Victorian Early Years Awards (VEYA) on Tuesday 27 October, and we are proud of both. Cerri May from Gowrie at The Harbour was named Educator of the Year. Debbie Roper, our Head of Curriculum & Practice, received the Emeritus Professor Collette Tayler Excellence in Educational Leadership Award. Ten winners were selected from 26 finalists across Victoria, with two of them working at Gowrie. Each winner receives a $15,000 grant for professional development or to support an initiative in the early years sector.

Cerri May, Educator of the Year

Cerri has spent 40 years in early childhood. The awards recognised how she works closely with families and other professionals to understand each child’s strengths, needs and identity, then adapts learning through braille, tactile and sound-based experiences. She also mentors and coaches other educators. Cerri shared how children at The Harbour learned about eels during Iuk Season in Changing of the Wurundjeri Seasons.

“It was a great honour to be awarded Educator of the Year Victoria and feels like a great acknowledgement of my 40 years working in early childhood,” Cerri said. “It was a lovely evening celebrating everyone’s success in early years and seeing all the nominees’ videos of their services and communities and hearing their stories, and then feeling proud to work for Gowrie when our videos were played. It also gave me time to reflect on my time at Gowrie and how much I’ve learnt during my time here.”

Debbie Roper, Emeritus Professor Collette Tayler Excellence in Educational Leadership

“Winning the Emeritus Professor Collette Tayler Excellence in Educational Leadership award has been a humbling experience for me,” Debbie said. She studied under Professor Tayler, whose influence, research and advocacy for quality education for all children has always inspired her.

“This award reinforces the power of the collective, of working with others to create a shared vision of how we work, learn and lead each other towards a common goal of continual improvement and innovation.”

We see this collective approach in our coaching programs, where coaches support teachers and educators to reflect on their practice and put strategies in place to reach their goals.

Debbie and Cerri both won their categories on the same night. “It was very special that Debbie and I both won our categories on the night and were able to celebrate together,” Cerri said.

Congratulations Cerri and Debbie, from all of us at Gowrie Victoria.

Learn more: Gowrie at The Harbour