By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
BUSINESSES providing essential health, education and wellbeing services were recognised for their success in the Casey-Cardinia Business Award nominations on 10 August at Berwick Monash.
Kinders Together is a not-for-profit organisation which managing 15 kindergartens in the Cardinia Shire and has earned a reputation for its diligence and care.
It was founded in 2006 and has since grown exponentially, now employing more than 60 part-time, full-time and casual early childhood educators within its centres.
Earlier this year, Kinders Together opened a new foyer at Pakenham Heights Kindergarten.
Money for the new facility was raised through years of dedicated fundraising and planning.
Grants and project development co-ordinator Di Price said the expansion of the kinder made the upgrade a necessity.
“Prior to the construction there was no disabled access, we could fit just half a dozen parents with no room for prams, the foyer has more than doubled in size,” she said.
“The construction started in September 2014 and finished ready for the 2015 kinder year.
“It has been a long-term vision, the initial grant was written three years ago.”
Providing a service that could be classed as both education and health, sisters Nikki Jurcutz and Rachael Waia are co-founders of Hero Head Quarters – a business that is transforming the first-aid training industry.
Nikki’s background as a paramedic and Rachael’s experience in education made it a perfect opportunity for the pair, and the accolades haven’t stopped since they became the youngest ever Australian women to own a Registered Training Organisation in 2013.
Earlier this year, Nikki was named emerging entrepreneur of the year at the NAB Women’s Agenda Leadership awards and the company was also named New Business of the Year in 2014.
Services offered by Hero Head Quarters including corporate first aid training and paediatric training and first aid kits which are designed to meet the needs of young children in medical emergencies.
They were awarded the Casey Cardinia New Business of the Year at the 2014 business awards.
Similarly, Emerald Medical Centre has achieved a number of previous business awards and developed a reputation for excellence in its field.
The centre has been a hills institution since the early 1950s when it was opened by Dr Ian Mcleod Murphy.
Today, as well as operating as a general practice, the medical centre houses a pathology service as well as a psychologist, a diabetes nurse and a mental health nurse.
It also offers patients convenient opening hours, and is open until 8pm from Monday to Thursday.
The winner will be announced at a gala dinner on Thursday 22 October at the Cranbourne Racing Club.
