Minister’s Arts Public Secondary Educator Award 2023

Penny Gill – Loxton High School

Penny will use her award to study art and culture in China. As well as using this new knowledge in her program, she will also run sessions for colleagues in neighbouring schools.

Ministers Arts Non-Government Secondary Educator Award 2023

Adam Rogers – Trinity Senior College

Adam will use his award to travel to the Concept Design Academy and universities in Los Angeles to broaden his knowledge and skills and establish an ongoing relationship with the Academy that will benefit his students.

Early Career Arts Educator Award 2023

Rebecca Johnson – Mount Gambier High

Rebecca has already achieved much in her short career and is keen to expand her Arts knowledge and skills.  She will undertake several courses including workshops at Fitzroy Painting and courses at both the SA and Victorian Art Galleries.

Ministers Language Scholarship Catholic School Educator

Grace Gava – Nazareth Catholic College

Grace is using the scholarship for an intensive Italian language course at the Piccola University in Italy.  She expects to develop enhanced fluency and comprehension as well as gaining insights into Italian culture and history.

Ministers Language Scholarship Independent School Educator

Tiffany Scadden – Hills Christian Community School

Tiffany will undertake a two-week intensive German language course in Germany.  As well as improving her language skills, she will use the opportunity to make connections with schools in Berlin for future exchanges and learning opportunities for her students.

Ministers Language Scholarship Public School Educator

Ailish Ling – Victor Harbor High School

Alish will undertake a two-week Indonesian language immersion program in Denpasar which will significantly enhance her skills and proficiency in the language as well as increasing her cultural understanding.

Ministers Early Career Language Scholarship Public School Educator

Thomas Russell – Salisbury East High School

Tom has designed several learning experiences in Japan that will build his language proficiency including his listening, speaking and reading skills.  He will share his experiences with his colleagues on his return.

Ministers Early Career Language Scholarship Non-Government School

Sharn de Nys – St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School

Sharn is enrolling in an intensive Italian language course at the Amal Lingue Language School in Genoa.  This course will elevate her language proficiency and build her understanding of culture and practical language skills for the classroom.

Outstanding Contribution to Learner Agency in Education Award 2023

Alixandria Schuppan (accepted by Noeleen Curran) – Visual Arts Educators South Australia

Alix has been a transformative force through creating a Studio-style learning environment which allows students to immerse deeply in their artistic pursuits and connect with external industry experts. She has fostered a culture of collaboration, personal accountability, and intrinsic motivation. Through her efforts, learners are more actively involved in shaping their academic experiences, leading to personal empowerment, improved well-being, and a profound sense of ownership over their learning.

The Flinders University Outstanding Graduate Award

Amber Mausolf – Flinders University

Amber has the ability connect with all students and build strong relationships. She tries new ways to engage students based on their interests and personalities. Amber is very willing to take on all the extended tasks of teaching and is very good at forming professional relationships with other educators.

The University of Adelaide Outstanding Graduate Award

Paul Beecroft – University of Adelaide

Paul is an excellent teacher. His work over the two years of his Master of Teaching has consistently been of the highest level. During his professional experience, Paul’s mentor reports have been second to none. He is a highly engaged and effective teacher. The rapport he builds with students and colleagues alike ensures he is providing quality education. We are proud that Paul receives the University of Adelaide Graduate Award and look froward to seeing his indelible mark on the teaching profession.

The University of South Australia Outstanding Graduate Award

Carmen Pyragius – Uni SA

 Carmen has been a constant high achiever, across all courses throughout the Master of Teaching program. In 2022 Carmen received the Chancellor’s Letter of Commendation for her academic achievements. Carmen has established important professional links to key associations to support her ongoing professional learning and engagement. Connections have already been developed across Science, HASS and Maths professional associations and she has identified resources through these associations to apply in her classroom teaching.

Credit Union SA Early Career Educator of the Year Award

Noor Alhuda – EdTechSA

Noor quickly transitioned from a preservice teacher to a significant contributor in the field of Digital Technologies at Salisbury High. Noor’s contributions extend beyond her classroom teaching to designing and implementing courses that have dramatically boosted student engagement in Digital Technology, especially for years 11 and 12. She has been instrumental in drawing preservice members to her association and provides invaluable mentorship for these new educators. She is both an inspiration and a beacon of support for them.

Mile End Office Furniture Innovative Educator of the Year Award

Anna Roebuck – SA Area School Leaders Association

 Anna has championed the intersection of education and real-world applications by establishing EASpresso Café, a student-run café at Eudunda AS. This initiative was geared towards offering students tangible experiences that would transition into lifelong learning skills and open doors to the workforce. Her audacious dream and its realization reinforce the idea that regardless of location and resources, commitment and vision can indeed bring about equity and excellence. Anna’s initiative is inspiring Area School Leaders to transcend constraints, dream big, and to actualize those dreams for the benefit of their students and communities.

Calm Wealth Outstanding Contributor to the Educator Profession

Angela Phillips – SA HALT Network

In 2022, Angela she reignited the SA HALT Network in South Australia by gathering insights from local HALTs and educational leaders. She initiated the SA HALT conference, attended by over 80 professionals, and has been pivotal in rolling out online professional training programs. She has had a significant impact within her school and the SA HALT Network with her initiatives, such as the writers’ workshops for aspiring HALTs and various professional learning and networking events.

Outstanding Contribution to Regional Educators 2023

SA HALT Network

SA HALT took a democratic approach to ascertain the needs of members through surveys, introducing flexible meeting access via online platforms and redefining fee structures based on event participation. This facilitated inclusion without financial barriers. They instituted an array of initiatives including live-streamed conferences, online professional development sessions, a resource-rich website, educational podcasts, online zines, and the development of regional hubs. They plan on expanding their advocacy for regional educators, by setting up more country hubs and enhancing their online and offline event offerings.

Teachers Registration Board Early Career Mentor of the Year 2023

Rebecca Scudds – SA HALT Network

 Rebecca has consistently showcased exemplary mentorship to early career educators. By modelling best practices, co-planning units, and offering constructive feedback, Rebecca aids these educators in rapidly advancing their skills and confidence. She emphasizes understanding the rationale behind teaching practices and encourages growth through observation-feedback mechanisms.

Outstanding Contribution to Learners’ Wellbeing and Development

Anna Partridge – SA HALT Network

Anna’s conceptualized and executed a comprehensive, evidence-based wellbeing framework that catered to students from Reception to Year 12. This framework has been recognized nationally, with her school winning the 2023 Excellence Award for Best Student Wellbeing Program in Australia. She has developed resources for other educators and published a book titled; “ The Art of Raising a Resilient Child”.

Innovative Association of the Year Award 2023

VAESA

VAESA has pioneered collaborations with the Art Gallery of South Australia and the Adelaide Central School of Art and has birthed avant-garde workshops that address both foundational and contemporary topics in art education, notably the integration of Artificial Intelligence in the field.  Its focus on AI’s role in the arts has illuminated potential avenues for the fusion of technology and creativity, fostering an environment of continuous learning and adaptation.