Annual Report 2024 - 2025

All Star Award Winners:

• Accountability – Livia Campos
• Respect – Ingrid Brito
• Optimism – Therese Beckman
• Leadership – Stella Shin
• Ethics – Faith Flaherty
• Inclusion – Celeste Simeon-Wilfing
• Innovation – The Governance Team (Fliss, Lyne, Ally, Mel)
• Volunteers – Helen Souter

Good Fun Award Winners:

• Buzz Lightyear – Paul Collins
• Chief Fun Fairy – Larah Nicholls
• Rookie of the Year – Amy O’Dell
• Safety Superstar – Bohee Seo
• Walking Wikipedia – Krystal Carter
• Dream Team – Families Team (Kasia, Sonam, Passang, Shirin)

Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group  

Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group brings together CRCS employees who are helping to shape our first Reflect RAP – the foundation stage of our reconciliation journey.  

The group focuses on strengthening respect, relationships and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by building cultural awareness, developing community partnerships and embedding inclusive practices across CRCS. This work is an important step in making reconciliation part of everyday practice across our organisation. 

Artist: ‘Inclusive Connections’, by Sarah Richards, 2022 

Celebrating Early Childhood Educators’ Day

On 4 September, we celebrated Early Childhood Educators’ Day across our five CRCS centres, recognising the dedicated teams who make a lasting difference in children’s lives. Our educators create safe, playful spaces where children learn, grow and thrive: always placing each child at the centre of every decision. 

Celebrating Together 

At CRCS, we make time to have fun and connect. From Talk Like a Pirate Day (enthusiastically led by Fliss, our Senior Manager – Governance, Quality and Compliance) to Book Week, Halloween, the Canberra Day Appeal, and Beyond Blue morning tea, these moments remind us we’re in it together. They’re a chance to share a laugh, check in, and strengthen our team spirit. Our End of Year Celebration brings everyone together to recognise and thank employees for their incredible work throughout the year.

25 Years of Care and Connection 

This year we celebrated Rosario (Rose), who achieved her Certificate III in Early Education and Care after more than 25 years with CRCS. Now completing her Diploma, Rose works in the Preschool room at Ginninderra Early Childhood Centre alongside Brianna and Ruthie, helping children feel safe, confident and ready to learn.

Inclusion Through Food: Cooking, Culture and Connection 

At Bruce Early Childhood Centre, Hiromi and Shirley guided toddlers in making sushi, turning lunchtime into a cultural learning experience. Activities like this help children explore new cuisines, learn about healthy eating, and celebrate diversity — a reflection of CRCS’s inclusive culture, where 92% of employees describe it as an inclusive workplace. 

Giving Tree Appeal 2024  

Each year, generous community donations help CRCS prepare festive hampers for many families and individuals across the Capital Region. Filled with treats, decorations and personalised gifts, these hampers remind people they are not alone, that they are valued, and that others care, ensuring everyone has something special to open and festive food to enjoy. 

A huge thank you to Radford College, who have supported the Appeal for more than a decade. This year, the Junior School Student Council members purchased gifts themselves – a thoughtful and intentional act of giving that added extra care to every hamper.