The North Queensland economy is being transformed by investments in the defence, resources and manufacturing sectors, but Wendy Bode could see her disadvantaged students were at risk of being excluded from jobs in these technology-heavy industries.
Read Wendy's Story >The Teaching Awards Alumni are inspiring teachers and school leaders who exemplify how education can transform children’s lives, creating brighter opportunities for all young Australians.
Together, this growing cohort of outstanding educators are making a difference in and beyond their schools to influence and inform best practice, policy and the broader profession.
Read more about their achievements below.
Jessica Chesterfield
Teaching Fellow
Hymba Yumba Independent School QLD
It was July 2020 and students at Hymba Yumba Independent School were returning to class after weeks of pandemic-related home learning. Stress levels were running high. Students were disengaged and conflicts were breaking out.
Read Jessica's Story >Hayley Dureau
Teaching Fellow
Mount Waverley Secondary College VIC
Under the guidance of Leading Teacher Hayley Dureau, Mount Waverley Secondary College is consulting with its student body about everything from homework to the physical environment.
Read Hayley's Story >Rebecca Godfrey
Teaching Fellow
Blackwater State High School QLD
Special relativity and quantum mechanics were not cutting through with students studying physics for electrical and other trade apprenticeships. So Rebecca Godfrey developed her own course, more relevant to the needs and experiences of her students in the mining communities of Central Queensland, and advocated until it was recognised by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority.
Read Rebecca's Story >Lloyd Godson
Teaching Fellow
Hastings Secondary College, Westport Campus NSW
His old business cards described him as an adventurer. Working with the likes of the Australian Geographic Society, and Dr Bob Ballard, who located the Titanic, he combined cutting-edge exploration science with intense physical challenges.
Read Lloyd's Story >Donna Harvey
Teaching Fellow
Beenleigh State High School QLD
A rigorous approach to reading, in which students at all levels receive explicit instruction to extend their comprehension, is anchoring a revolution in achievement at Beenleigh State High School in Brisbane.
Read Donna's Story >Jennifer Parrett
Teaching Fellow
James Fallon High School NSW
James Fallon High School is a microcosm of Australia’s migration history. Alongside a growing number of First Nations students in rural Albury in southern NSW are the children of successive waves of migration from Europe and central, south east and south Asia.
Read Jennifer's Story >Anna Ritzema
Teaching Fellow
Tambrey Primary School WA
At a young age, Anna Ritzema was advised that her dream of being a doctor maybe wasn’t going to be a reality. At 17 she failed a biology test and her confidence plummeted.
Read Anna's Story >Paul Taylor
Teaching Fellow
Banora Point Public School NSW
Paul Taylor thinks Australian teachers should have access to the most successful education theories and practices, wherever in the world those ideas come from. He has made it his mission to bring international educational leaders to NSW, to meet local teachers face to face in a long-running series of conferences intended to inspire positive changes in teaching techniques, aligned to student needs and demographics.
Read Paul's Story >Rebecca West
Teaching Fellow
Bonnyrigg Public School NSW
Rebecca West was just getting serious runs on the board in improving the academic performance of Bonnyrigg Public School, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
Read Rebecca's Story >Alex Wharton
Teaching Fellow
Carinya Christian School Gunnedah NSW
To Kill A Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies awoke a lifelong passion for literature in the teenaged Alex Wharton. Now he is applying his own love of books to collaboratively develop reading programs for students in Years 7, 8 and 9, when earlier reading habits are often abandoned.
Read Alex's Story >Daniel Yore
Teaching Fellow
Yirrkala School NT
Daniel Yore trained as a doctor before transitioning to teaching in order to address social injustice more directly.
Read Daniel's Story >