The HAPI Awards recognise kindergartens, child care centres and Government Primary Schools in the Barwon South Western region of Victoria, who are outstanding achievers in their positive inclusion of children with disabilities and additional needs.
What are the HAPI Awards?
The HAPI Awards were developed by Gateways Support Services to celebrate the outstanding work by kindergarten teachers, childcare workers and primary school teachers in promoting positive inclusion of children with disabilities and additional needs.
The HAPI Awards have been held since 2004 and our inaugural sponsor – G-Force Recruitment – again supported the HAPI Awards in 2009. We thank them for their ongoing commitment to this innovative initiative.
The cities of Greater Geelong and Warrnambool also jointly sponsored a category of the HAPI Awards and the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development sponsored a new category that recognises the essential contribution that Government Primary Schools make in supporting positive inclusion of children in the Prep year with disabilities and additional needs.
What are the HAPI Award categories?
There are five categories within the HAPI Awards:
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Inclusion of a child who has an additional need or mild disability. Example: a kindergarten successfully including a child eligible for preschool field officer support.
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Inclusion of a child who has a moderate disability. Example: a kindergarten successfully including a child with a disability receiving ongoing early childhood intervention support.
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Inclusion of a child who has a severe disability. Example: a kindergarten successfully including a child with a disability receiving support from the kindergarten inclusion support service.
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Inclusion of a child attending a Commonwealth funded childcare program. Example: a childcare centre successfully including a child with a disability within a child care program.
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Inclusion of a child attending a Government Primary School in their Prep year. Example: a Primary School successfully including a child with a disability into a mainstream prep program.
How can we make a nomination?
Nominations for the 2009 HAPI Awards have closed.
Finalist in Category 1 were Elsa McLeod, Macarthur, Winifred Nance, and Corio South Norlane kindergartens. The winner of this category was Macarthur which is a tribute to the staff and community of this remote rural kindergarten.
In Category 2 the finalists were Belmont community. Kardinia Kids, William Hovell, and ABC Lara with ABC Lara taking out the award.
In Category 3 the finalists were North Hamilton, Kardinia Kids, Clifton Springs and Geelong West with Kardinia Kids declared the winners for 2009.
In Category 4 the finalists were Woodlands Childcare and Baycity Learning and Care with Woodlands taking out the award.
Finalists in Category 5 were Warrnambool South, Highton, South Geelong and North shore primary schools with Highton judged the winner.
Our congratulations to all the finalists who have demonstrated leadership and outstanding efforts in welcoming and catering successfully for children with disabilities and additional needs within their communities.
Nominations for the 2010 HAPI Awards will open in mid-2010.
For more information contact:
For more details about the HAPI Awards contact Gateways via Contact Us or on 5221 2984.