The Little Things That Make a Big Difference

The 85 nominations submitted for Sanctuary Maudsland this year revealed something wonderful about this team: Maudsland notices the work nobody is supposed to see.

Laundry being folded. Floors swept. Trolleys moved. Fruit cut. Breaks covered. Rooms reset. Something broken quietly fixed with whatever happens to be nearby.

None of those tasks necessarily appears in somebody’s position description. Yet all of them contribute to the way a centre feels and functions.

The nominations were also, by some margin, among the funniest submitted across Sanctuary. Underneath the humour, though, was genuine warmth and affection for the people who make Maudsland what it is.

Anna began at Maudsland as a quiet and observant educator.

Through observation, initiative and some guidance, her confidence has grown steadily and she has become what her colleagues now describe as an absolute asset to Starfish.

Anna anticipates what needs to be done, supports the babies with confidence and picks up where others leave off. Perhaps the greatest compliment came from a colleague who described leaving the Starfish studio knowing, without concern, that the babies were in capable hands. That level of trust with the youngest children in a centre is earned slowly and given carefully.

Anna is also continuing her studies while working across other studios, making her growth even more impressive.

Tracey received five nominations, and one word appeared repeatedly: kind.

She runs her studio with grace, professionalism and an extraordinary willingness to share what she knows.

Younger educators seek Tracey out for advice and support because they know every question will be met patiently. Families feel safe, seen and heard from their first day.

And Tracey has never allowed leadership to pull her away from the children. Her colleagues still describe finding her on the floor with the babies, rocking a child to sleep or engaging the smallest children in play.

As one nomination put it, she is everything you want in a Lead.

One nomination for Kim opened with a line that captured this award perfectly. She is not just Maudsland’s office administrator. She is the maintenance lady, the laundry folder and “the beat that keeps Sanctuary Maudsland ticking along”.

Kim is the extra pair of hands people did not know they needed. She sees the laundry, the trolley or the fruit that needs cutting and simply gets it done.

She is also one of the first faces families see and has a remarkable ability to remember the little details people share, asking about the weekend trip or conversation the next time she sees them.

Then there are the zip ties, drills and glue that appear whenever something needs repairing. Her colleagues said it simply: Maudsland would be lost without her.

Tennille makes families feel seen and heard, and those relationships do not end simply because a child moves into another studio. Families continue seeking her out for a chat because the connection lasts.

One family nomination described a daughter who is always excited to attend and specifically asks to see Tennille. That parent also described feeling genuinely supported through toilet training, with honest conversations about good days, harder days and what their child was experiencing.

That is family partnership in its most meaningful form: a parent who feels informed, supported and completely comfortable with the person caring for their child.

Josephine’s nominations painted an extraordinarily consistent picture. She approaches children with calmness, warmth and intention and has a particular ability to support emotional regulation, helping create settled environments where learning can happen.

Her practice turns everyday interactions into opportunities to develop respectful behaviour, social awareness and the practical skills children will carry with them. Her Kindergarten studio has brought challenges this year, but Josephine continues to arrive with a smile and communicate in a way one colleague described perfectly: firm but kind, gentle yet supportive.

Perhaps the most fitting nomination called Josephine a quiet achiever before speaking directly to her:

I see you, and I see all the beautiful work you do each and every day.

That is exactly what this award exists to recognise.

Congratulations to Stephanette “Steph” Roache Faleafaga, Coffee Order Memory Award; Michaella Hanna-Douglas, Glitter Wrangler; Josie Hookway, Human Snooze Button; Eliza O’Brien, Lunchbox Whisperer; Tressa Ward, MacGyver; Jade Burchell-Hodge, Most Likely to Be Found on the Floor; Amanda “Mandi” Henderson, Nature Explorer; and Rachael Bulling, Walking Wikipedia.

The best thing about Maudsland’s nominations may be what they tell us about the people who submitted them. This is a team that notices the things nobody was supposed to notice.

Keep doing that.

It is one of the best things about Sanctuary Maudsland.

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