From Suzie
Dear Team,
There has been so much to acknowledge and celebrate across our services and programs recently.
We welcomed staff from St Therese’s OSHC program, celebrated Battery Point’s Art from Trash Exhibition, Book Week, Educators’ Day, Tasmanian Training Awards Finalist Award, Mental Health Week, Holi and Campbell Street’s Children’s Creative Arts Exhibition.
I would also like to acknowledge the incredible work undertaken in our services every day to provide quality, safe and inclusive education and care. Thank you to our educators for their professionalism and commitment, and all those in our team who support them in their work with children and families.
Celebrating our Work
Our recent 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) was a time to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable work undertaken in our services and programs by our passionate and dedicated teams. To view our online 2024-25 Annual Report please visit: https://annualreport.gowrie-tas.com.au/2024-25/
A highlight of the meeting every year is the announcement of the Helen Stephen Memorial Scholarship recipient. Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Naomi Reynolds, and we look forward to following Naomi’s professional learning journey over the coming years.
Valuing our People
The AGM was also a time to acknowledge and thank our people who have achieved the significant milestone years of dedicated service to children, families, learners and our organisation. To view the full list of significant milestones of our people in 2024-25 please visit: https://annualreport.gowrie-tas.com.au/2024-25/our-people/
As part of our ongoing commitment to recognising and rewarding the contribution of our valued workforce, we were pleased to pass on the second Worker Retention Grant wage increase to eligible employees on 1 December, 2025.
Voting for our new Lady Gowrie Tasmania (LGT) Enterprise Agreement 2025 (EA) also closed with 84% voting YES. This means that we have a substantial majority, and the EA will now be submitted to Fair Work Commission for approval. This may take up to 6 weeks and then our new EA takes effect.
However, LGT has committed to apply the first instalment of pay increases earlier and these will be reflected in pays on 14th January, 2026. Over the coming months, we will work through implementation of the changes including any policy, process and system changes and will provide more information as it affects you.
Child Safety Updates
Children’s safety continues to be a strong focus of the work that we do every day. Thank you to everyone for your continued cooperation since we strengthened the safety of all children in our care in line with the new ACECQA child safety guidelines that came into effect in September, particularly with staff mobile phone/device usage in licensed areas.
From 27 February 2026, everyone will be required to complete mandatory national child safety training. This training is free and will be available on Geccko, the Australian Government Department of Education’s online learning platform for the ECEC sector. More information on training content and requirements will be made available early next year.
For more information on Geccko and how to register please visit:
https://www.education.gov.au/early-childhood/about/quality-and-safety/mandatory-national-child-safety-training
I hope you enjoy reading through this Gowrie Gazette with stories about play and learning in our services, our recent celebrations and events, the Tassie Mums ‘Season of Giving’ campaign, staff profiles, graduations, anniversaries and staff news – to name just a few!
On behalf of the Board and Senior Leadership Team at LGT, we take this opportunity to thank you for an amazing 2025 and wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy festive season.
We look forward to working with everyone next year as we strengthen our focus on providing quality, safe and inclusive services and programs and developing our workforce.
Until next time,
Suzie Jones
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER