Gowrie Victoria Broadmeadows Valley (GVBV) has been re-awarded the Excellent rating

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Date first awarded: 24 July 2019
Date re-awarded: 12 September 2022
Valid until: 11 September 2025

Gowrie Victoria Broadmeadows Valley (GVBV) has been re-awarded the Excellent rating by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), the highest rating a service can achieve under the National Quality Framework. 

The Melbourne based service was recognised for its:  

  • collaborative partnerships with professional, community or research organisations 

  • commitment to children that respects, reflects and celebrates culture and diversity,  

including place of origin 

  • inclusive partnerships with children and families 

  • positive workplace culture, organisational values, support of educators and sustained commitment to professional development  

  • practice and environments that enhance children’s learning and growth. 

Examples of exceptional practice at the service include: 

  • The service partnered with not-for-profit DPV Health to deliver a specialised speech program as part of its School Readiness Funding. This encompassed bespoke training and collaboration with specialist teachers, educational specialists and support professionals. Positive outcomes observed by GVBV include an increase in speech and language-based strategies across all classrooms and educators being able to identify children’s speech needs earlier. GVBV recognises the speech program as a safeguard against delays to children’s engagement and development, particularly during interim periods when families are waiting extended times for referrals and specialist appointments (e.g. speech).  

  • In 2020, the service took part in the Alannah and Madeline Foundation Playing IT Safe pilot program, with funding provided by the Gandel Foundation. Resources such as Polaroid cameras, walkie-talkies, and sound recording buttons were used to support discussions with children and families on image consent and permissions. A photo booth at the service provided children and families with a fun way to support their understandings of safe and respectful use of technology. 

  • GVBV recognised the need to develop a manual to support educators in leadership roles. In 2020, the Assistant Manager created a comprehensive leadership manual as part of their performance plan goals. Staff feedback identified that the manual supported consistency for responsibilities and roles and provided the opportunity for staff to resource their own learning. The Assistant Manager subsequently worked with the approved provider’s Senior Learning and Development Specialist to expand the leadership manual for use across the organisation in June 2021. 

  • In late 2019, the service reviewed the structure in its funded kindergarten programs where the Early Years Leader (EYL) position was held by an Early Childhood Teacher (ECT). Due to service and local community needs, the EYL spent a significant amount of time liaising with support staff and support services. This was impacting on the amount of face-to-face teaching occurring. In response, the EYL is now a Diploma-trained staff member who holds a dual leadership role with the ECT. Specifically, the ECT oversees children’s learning through curriculum and pedagogy, whilst the EYL focuses more on compliance, operations, and team management. GVBV recognises that this change provided greater consistency for children and the team.  

  • In 2020, GVBV was successfully selected into the Victorian Government’s Early Childhood Language Program (ECLP). A Spanish language program was selected to create a language learning pathway for kindergarten children transitioning into the local school which had a Spanish Arts program. In 2022, after consultation with families and to support the number of children and families who speak Arabic, the service commenced an Arabic language program. The language teacher also began hosting bi-weekly English classes for female family members from the service and local school. Many of these women had recently moved to Australia. 

As a leader in the sector, GVBV shares its practice and learnings through working groups, webinars, video resources and presentations to the wider early childhood sector, ensuring their positive impact reaches far beyond the children and families who access their service.  

About the Excellent rating 

Services that receive a rating of ‘Exceeding National Quality Standard’ in all seven quality areas can apply to ACECQA for the Excellent rating. The Excellent rating is awarded for three years. After this time services have the option to re-apply.