We are absolutely thrilled to share some incredible news with our school community! Despite only opening the doors to our Nambour campus six months ago in late January 2026, the widespread impact of our dedicated team has already been recognised on the regional stage.
Kairos Community College has been named a finalist in two distinct categories for the prestigious 2026 Above & Beyond Awards, presented by Marty Hunt MP! These awards celebrate the remarkable individuals, community groups, and local businesses that make the Nicklin electorate such a wonderful place to live, work, and learn.
Meet Our Outstanding Nominees
Chantelle Ellison – Nightingale Award
Proudly Sponsored by Nambour Selangor Private Hospital
The Nightingale Award celebrates individuals who make a significant contribution to physical or mental health outcomes in their community. Here at Kairos, we know firsthand that our incredible Nambour Youth Worker, Chantelle Ellison, does exactly that.
Chantelle is a transformative practitioner who constantly looks past traditional boundaries to support young people who have disengaged from mainstream education. From tailoring check-in systems that help anxious students rebuild their school attendance, to delivering emotional regulation programs, Chantelle creates a sanctuary where vulnerable youth feel safe, accepted, and deeply valued.
Her advocacy extends well beyond the classroom walls. Whether she is coordinating safe housing arrangements with crisis accommodation providers or staying on-site at the grueling Kokoda Challenge to guide anxious students through to the finish line, Chantelle is changing trajectories daily. She restores faith in education for young people and their families by building deep trust, injecting compassion into everything she touches.
Kairos Community College Nambour – Education or Skills Provider of the Year
Proudly Sponsored by Community Bank Woombye & Districts
This category acknowledges the educators, trainers, and mentors who help people learn, grow, and find meaningful pathways into work or purpose. Our third Kairos campus functions as both a safe haven and a powerful springboard for our students.
A shining example of this is our delivery of the Certificate II in Active Volunteering course. In just one semester since opening, our incredible Year 10 cohort has already contributed over 96 hours of hands-on volunteering to local non-profit organisations, including the EndED Farm. Through this practical curriculum, students build workplace-ready communication skills, work health and safety awareness, and teamwork, while discovering a sense of civic pride.
Driven by an exceptionally warm, collaborative, and approachable staff, Kairos Nambour successfully blends accredited academic pathways with wellbeing support to guide young people toward bright futures.
We Need Your Help: How to Vote!
The winners of the Above & Beyond Awards are decided entirely by our local community, and we need your support to help bring these trophies home.
Important Voting Rule: Per the official guidelines, duplicate votes from the same person will not be accepted. You can only vote once! Because of this rule, our strategy relies on the power of community sharing. We are asking our network to cast their official vote, and then actively pass the word along to friends, neighbours, and colleagues to help spread awareness of the wonderful work happening at Kairos Nambour!
- Step 1: Head to the official voting page: martyhunt.com.au/above-beyond-awards/voting
- Step 2: Cast your unique vote for Chantelle Ellison (Nightingale Award) and Kairos Community College (Education or Skills Provider of the Year).
- Step 3: Share our announcement posts on Facebook and LinkedIn with your personal networks to help multiply our reach!
Voter Bonus: To say thank you for participating, the Electorate Office is entering all voters into a draw to win a $50 voucher to spend at Grounded at Woombye!
Voting is officially open now and closes on Tuesday, 14 July 2026. Let’s band together, celebrate the rapid, widespread impact of our newest campus, and give Chantelle and our Nambour team the recognition they truly deserve.
Thank you for being such an integral part of our community success!
