On Early Childhood Educators鈥� Day, centres across our network unveiled something special. Children, educators and families had spent weeks working together on displays inspired by this year鈥檚 national theme, The Future Starts With Us!
The results were creative, heartfelt and full of big dreams. Today, we are proud to celebrate our zone winners and share the stories behind their work.
A project built around one big idea
Early Childhood Educators鈥� Day was held on Wednesday 2 September 2026. The day is an , which set this year鈥檚 theme. You can read how we marked the day in our post, The Future Starts With Us: Celebrating Early Childhood Educators鈥� Day 2026.
To extend the celebrations, we invited our centres to take part in a national display project during September. Each display brought together the dreams of the educators and children in the centre.
Families were part of it too. They were invited to add their hopes and goals for their children, and to learn about the dreams their children had shared.
Centres revealed their displays on Early Childhood Educators鈥� Day. Many took the project a step further with a 鈥淔uture You!鈥� dress up day for educators and children.
The project was sponsored by . Each winning centre receives a $250 MTA voucher to spend on resources for their children.
Our zone winners
Congratulations to the following centres, recognised as zone winners from Darwin to Perth, and from Melbourne to Canberra:
Every display was different, but a few themes came through strongly.
Educators who were once little dreamers
Several centres turned the spotlight on their own teams. They asked a simple question: what did our educators want to be when they grew up?
At Milestones Early Learning Helena Valley, educators shared their childhood photos. The team reflected on the little people they once were, and the journeys that led them into early childhood education.
Aussie Kindies Early Learning Glen Innes placed each educator鈥檚 face onto an image of the career they once dreamed of. The display sits at the centre entrance, and children now stop to point out their educators at drop-off and pick-up. Staff often hear children telling their parents how 鈥淢iss Ruby looks so cool as a vet鈥�.
Kids Academy Early Learning Regentville took its lead from a 鈥淲hen I Grow Up鈥� project in the Junior Prep room. Educators were pictured in their dream careers, next to photos celebrating the path they chose instead.
At Milestones Early Learning Toronto, the preschool children鈥檚 love of space set the scene. Educators were pictured on a rocket ship journey into their futures. A 鈥淕uess Who?鈥� game asked families to match each childhood photo to an educator. It was such a hit that the centre kept it out for four days.
Children鈥檚 dreams in their own words
Other centres put children鈥檚 voices at the centre of the display.
At Milestones Early Learning Darwin City, the display grew out of conversations during Book Week. Preschool children created self-portraits and drew pictures of who they might become. The team said:
鈥淭he most rewarding part was listening to the children鈥檚 ideas and watching their imaginations come to life.鈥�
Milestones Early Learning Lynwood showcased the children鈥檚 real skills and creativity. The display captured their dreams while also celebrating their growing fine motor skills.
The Beach Early Learning Centre Wyong celebrated children as capable learners. The display featured Future Scientists, Little Artists and Future Athletes, linked to the STEM, creative arts and physical activities children had explored.
At Kids Academy Early Learning Rivett, the Junior Preschool and Preschool children created pictures, and families were invited to share their own childhood dreams. Writing their responses together gave parents and children a chance to talk about their dreams.
Families at the heart of it
Families played a big part in making these displays meaningful.
At Milestones Early Learning Riverstone Rise, the team gathered families鈥� hopes and dreams for their children through Storypark and in person. Children stopped to show their families the display each day, and it sparked a new interest in rockets. The display has also become a helpful talking point on centre tours.
Kids Academy Early Learning Regentville invited families to share feedback about their educators and received 26 responses. One family wrote:
鈥淐ool, calm and collected - the three of you bring such a beautiful feeling to the babies鈥� room.鈥�
At Milestones Early Learning Toronto, families answered the question, 鈥淗ow have our educators helped shape your child鈥檚 future this year?鈥� Their notes were added to the display alongside the children鈥檚 drawings.
Thank you
Thank you to every educator, child and family who took part. Your displays showed exactly why this year鈥檚 theme matters. The early years lay the foundations for the future, and our educators help build them every day.
Thank you to Modern Teaching Aids for sponsoring the project, and to the Australian Childcare Alliance for the theme that inspired it.
If these stories have you thinking about your own future, you can explore a career as an educator with 黑料专区.