On Friday night, the best of what Australia’s education system has to offer was recognised and celebrated at The Australian Education Awards 2024.
The Awards, now in their seventh year, showcase the achievements of the country’s top performing schools, principals, department heads and teachers across all states and territories, and all school sectors.
Nearly 800 attendees converged at the Star Event Centre in Sydney on Friday 9 August when winners were recognised across 29 categories, including Best Student Wellbeing Program, Education Rising Star of the Year, and Australian School of the Year.
Partnering with The Educator for the Australian Education Awards 2024 was Prime Super, an independent profit-to-members superannuation fund providing superannuation and retirement solutions to Australians for over 20 years.
“Prime Super’s support of the Australian Education Awards as Event Partner in 2024 is part of our commitment to supporting our many current and future members in the education sector,” Billie Atanasova, National Sales Manager, Corporate Super at Prime Super told The Educator.
“As a super fund we have a strong affinity with the teachers, principals and support staff in schools who are working every day to elevate the futures of others. We share a similar commitment in that we are working every day to help our members create the best possible future outcomes for themselves.”
Without further ado, here are the Excellence Awardees for the Australian Education Awards 2024.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Department Head of the Year
Winner: Dr Todd Zadow, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
Excellence Awardees:
Brigida Zagora, Santa Sabina College
Danielle Fairthorne, Kincoppal – Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart, Rose Bay, NSW
Danni Mattiazzo, Larrakeyah Primary School
Jack Treby, Indooroopilly State High School
Jenna Cullen, Marsden State High School
Samantha Andonis, Trinity College (SA)
Paul Terechow, Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Rebecca Isakson, Park Ridge State High School
Strak Kosanovic, Brisbane South State Secondary College
Deputy Principal of the Year
Winner: Carla Pantano, Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Excellence Awardees:
Catherine Higgins, Marsden State High School
Dr Steven Middleton, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
John Wigan, Asquith Girls High School
Katherine Adnett, Pulteney Grammar School
Laura McRae, Orara High School
Tom Bates, Corinda State High School
Education Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Dominika Kapustka, Haileybury
Excellence Awardees:
Adam Poulakidas, Marsden State High School
Ashleigh Jones, Salesian College
Elizabeth McNulty, Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Jabez Castray, Faith Lutheran College, Plainland
Jade Bassett, Rutherford Technology High School
Sam Lowry, St Patrick’s College Townsville
Sarah Dundon, Port Augusta Secondary School
Zara Baldwin, Bishop Druitt College
Primary School Principal of the Year – Government
Winner: Loreta Kocovska, Windang Public School
Excellence Awardees:
Bronwyn Jeffree, Tarrawanna Public School
Fathma Mauger, Larrakeyah Primary School
Lisa Parrello, St Marys North Public School
Stephen Josey, Labrador State School
Primary School Principal of the Year – Non-government
Winner: Helen Finlay, St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School
Excellence Awardee:
Stephanie Kriewaldt, Lobethal Lutheran School
Primary School Teacher of the Year – Government
Winner: Katrina Paton, Springvale Park SDS
Excellence Awardees:
Carmel Spruhan, Larrakeyah Primary School
Georgia Gray, Kunyung Primary School
Melinda Oldham, Glen Huntly
Primary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government
Winner: Tracy Foyster, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
Excellence Awardees:
Danielle Searles, Casey Grammar Schooll
Kylie Chesterfield, Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Lisa Stern, Melbourne Montessori School
Maria Lee, Pymble Ladies’ College (Junior School)
Nicole Vander Vinne, Presbyterian Ladies’ College
Regina Brennan, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Trent Davis, A. B. Paterson College
School Principal of the Year – Government
Winner: Goldy Sodhi, Kingston State College
Excellence Awardees:
Christopher Robertson, Aurora College
Helen Jamieson, Corinda State High School
Kimberley Tempest, Cobram Secondary College
Liz Foster, Wavell State High School
Marcus Jones, Marsden State High School
Rachel Byrne, Hunter Sports High School
Simon Done, Maryborough State High School
Prime Super School Principal of the Year – Non-government
Winner: Anne Johnstone, Ravenswood School for Girls
Excellence Awardees:
Deborah Netolicky, Walford Anglican School for Girls
Dr Adrian Camm, Westbourne Grammar School
Dr Annette Rome, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
Felicity Marlow, Norwest Christian College
Justin Beckett, Arden Anglican School (Secondary Campus)
Kim Wickham, Loreto College Coorparoo
Simon Shepherd, Westminster School
Sponsored by Prime Super
Secondary School Teacher of the Year – Government
Winner: Nicole (Nicki) Crerar, Corinda State High School
Excellence Awardees:
Dr Vladmir Tosic, North Sydney Boys High School
Elise Taylor, Brisbane South State Secondary College
Katherine Chisholm, Boonah SHS
Kimberly Whitehouse, Indooroopilly State High School
Kylie Winslade, Orange High School
Luda Kovalev, Loganlea State High School
Nicole Goodwin, Bentleigh Secondary College
Fish Nankivell Secondary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government
Winner: Michelle Chomiak, St Mark’s Anglican Community School
Excellence Awardees:
Colette Anderson, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Gaile Racey, Hale School
Jia Liao, Presbyterian Ladies’ College
Lachlan Hall, Christ Church Grammar School
Michele Hockey, Central Coast Grammar School
Mitchell Mills, Saint Stephen’s College
Nischal Lata, Minarah College
Rachael Tharle, St. Kevin’s College Toorak
Sponsored by Fish Nankivell
CURRICULUM AWARDS
Clipboard Best Co-Curricular Program
Winner: Maryborough State High School
Excellence Awardees:
Adelaide Botanic High School
Coomera Anglican College
Emmaus College
Heritage Christian School
Loreto College Coorparoo
Sunshine Coast Grammar School
The King’s School, Tudor House
Sponsored by Clipboard
Best STEM Program
Winner: Trinity College (SA)
Excellence Awardees:
Brisbane South State Secondary College
Marist Catholic College Penshurst
Pymble Ladies’ College (Junior School)
Queensland Academy for Science – Mathematics and Technology
Queenwood
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Westbourne College Sydney
Best Use of Technology
Winner: Ravenswood School for Girls
Excellence Awardees:
Canterbury College
Larrakeyah Primary School
Marsden State High School
Westbourne Grammar School
Grok Academy Innovation in Curriculum Design
Winner: St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School
Excellence Awardees:
Asquith Girls High School
Faith Lutheran College, Plainland
Fatih Lutheran College, Redlands
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Redlands
Servite College
The Rockhampton Grammar School
Sponsored by Grok Academy
Innovation in Learning Environment Design
Winner: St Michael’s Grammar School
Excellence Awardees:
Haileybury Pangea
Immanuel College
Loreto Kirribilli
St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls
St Patrick’s College Townsville
Stuartholme School
SCHOOL AWARDS
Ideagen Best First Nations Education Program
Winner: Lake Cargelligo Central School
Excellence Awardees:
Bangor Public School
Curran Public School
Indooroopilly State High School
Revesby Public, Picnic Point Public, Picnic Point High School
Toronto Public School
Wiluna Remote Community School
Sponsored by Ideagen
Best Professional Learning Program
Winner: Benowa State High School
Excellence Awardees:
Aspect Schools
Brisbane Grammar School
Kedron State High School
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
Mt St Michael’s College
Oakhill Drive Public School
Queensland Children’s Hospital School
Suzanne Cory High School
Wattle Grove Public School
Best School Strategic Plan
Winner: Westbourne Grammar School
Excellence Awardees:
Global Village Learning
Hills Grammar
Presbyterian Ladies’ College
Strathcona Girls Grammar
The Rockhampton Grammar School
Best Student Wellbeing Program
Winner: Wesley College
Excellence Awardees:
Bentleigh Secondary College
Haileybury Rendall School
John Paul College
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
Mooroopna Park Primary School
Ravenswood School for Girls
St Luke’s Grammar School
Trinity Anglican School – Kewarra Beach
Australian Boarding Schools Association Boarding School of the Year
Winner: St Joseph’s Nudgee College
Excellence Awardees:
Caulfield Grammar School
Ravenswood School for Girls
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
St Ursula’s College Toowoomba
Stuartholme School
The Rockhampton Grammar School
Walford Anglican School for Girls
Sponsored by Australian Boarding Schools Association
NRL Schools Primary School of the Year – Government
Winner: Berry Public School
Excellence Awardees:
Cessnock East Public School
Galston Public School
Governor Philip King Public School
Harrisdale Primary School
Hurstville Public School
Yates Avenue Public School
Sponsored by NRL Schools
Primary School of the Year – Non-government
Winner: Haileybury
Excellence Awardees:
Canberra Girls Grammar School – Junior School
Claremont College
Melbourne Montessori School
Ormiston College
St Michael’s Grammar School
Trinity Anglican School White Rock Campus Primary
Prime Super Regional School of the Year
Winner: Wiluna Remote Community School
Excellence Awardees:
Barham High School
Haileybury Rendall School
Maryborough State High School
Murwillumbah Public School
Riverside Christian College
Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Trinity Anglican School
Sponsored by Prime Super
AFL Schools Secondary School of the Year – Government
Winner: Hunter Sports High School
Excellence Awardees:
Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Bentleigh Secondary College
Corinda State High School
Secondary College of Languages
Sponsored by AFL Schools
Winc Education Secondary School of the Year – Non-government
Winner: St Andrew’s Anglican College
Excellence Awardees:
Emmanuel Catholic College – Western Australia
Haileybury
Ormiston College
Santa Sabina College
St Laurence’s College
Trinity College Beenleigh
Westminster School
Sponsored by Winc Education
Special Education School of the Year
Winner: The Hills School
Excellence Awardees:
Five Islands School
Mancel College
St Gabriel’s School
Waratah Special Developmental School
NATIONAL AWARDS
Australian School of the Year
Winner: Hunter Sports High School
Excellence Awardees:
Berry Public School
Haileybury
St Andrew’s Anglican College
This Hills School
Australian School Principal of the Year
Winner: Anne Johnstone, Ravenswood School for Girls
Excellence Awardees:
Goldy Sodhi, Kingston State College
Helen Finlay, St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School
Loreta Kocovska, Windang Public School
See full list of winners and excellence awardees on the event website here.