The aptly named Green Rhino award for Excellence in Environmental Sustainability has been presented to Stepping Stones Early Learning Centre Dubbo at the 2017 Regional Australia Bank Rhino Awards.

The early learning centre, which has been providing long day care since 1997 for children up to five years of age, identified a gap in their business  –  they were not happy with their own sustainability practices.

After addressing the issues they developed strategies in order to meet their expectations in this area, including obtaining additional recycling bins and creating their own recycling centre, and building a worm farm and vegetable garden to process large amounts of food scraps.

Centre Director Nolan Furnell said the centre would still continue to set and pursue goals in sustainability with the award win providing “great affirmation that we are working towards those goals effectively”.

He also recognised the efforts of his team.

“We have an incredible group of employees who bring a diverse set of skills, passions and backgrounds to create a team greater than the sum of its parts,” Nolan said. 

The Stepping Stones centre lives by the famous phrase "nothing without joy", where they recognise that play and learning should not, and need not, be separated and are committed to pursuing excellence not only in sustainability but in every aspect of their business.