Yuluwirri Kids educator announced as 2020 NSW Trainee of the Year finalist
by Freya LucasMarshandra Naden, familiar to readers of The Sector from a recent piece announcing her as the recipient of a Pat Dixon Scholarship, has progressed to he finals of the 2020 NSW Trainee of the Year Awards for the New England Region.
Ms Naden, who works at Yuluwirri Kids has been nominated for the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Category, in the New England Region 2020 NSW Trainee of the Year Awards.
Warrumbungle Shire Council General Manager, Roger Bailey said Ms Naden is one of four “very well deserved finalists” to go through to the Regional Finalist award ceremony, which will be held online on Friday 26 June 2020.
“At the Regional Finalist award ceremony one nominee will become the regional winner of the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Category and will progress to the next stage. If Marshandra is successful she will represent the New England Region in the State Finals, which will be announced in September 2020,” Mr Bailey explained.
Known as ‘Shand’ by her colleagues, Ms Naden is said to have built great relationships with children, families and fellow educators.
“During her time at Yuluwirri Kids she has been willing to attend any training offered to extend her industry (sic.) knowledge, and was successful in obtaining a travel scholarship to the 2019 Early Childhood Australia Reconciliation Symposium in Melbourne in 2019” nomination information for Ms Naden read.
Having completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care with TAFE NSW – Western as part of her traineeship with Warrumbungle Shire Council, Ms Naden has grown in confidence throughout her traineeship, and “is an asset to her team in daily operations, routines, program and practices.”
Using her Pat Dixon scholarship of $5,000, Ms Naden intends to undertake a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care at TAFE NSW through Local Government NSW.
“We wish Shand all the best in her award nomination, scholarship and developing career with Yuluwirri Kids. We are very pleased to have Shand in our workforce. Good luck!” concluded Mr Bailey.
Yuluwirri Kids is a community childcare centre, owned and auspiced by Warrumbungle Shire Council. More information is available on their website, here.