Victoria’s outstanding teachers, principals and support staff have been celebrated at the 2023 Victorian Education Excellence Awards (VEEA), highlighting talented teams working in education across the state.
The VEEA inspires teachers, principals, business managers and support staff in Government schools to help students to achieve their best.
Congratulating the winners and finalists at The Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne on 27 October (World Teacher’s Day), Minister for Education Ben Carroll applauded the commitment and passion of teachers, leaders and school staff across Victoria for their incredible work in helping make it the Education State.
“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards – you do Victoria proud and your big ideas inspire students across the state,” Mr Carroll said.
“These awards recognise the work that our amazing school workforce do to motivate and inspire students to pursue their dreams and passions and are a key part of what makes us the Education State.”
Balwyn High School was recognised for its outstanding support for high ability learners and received the Lindsay Thompson Excellence in Education Award, named after the late former Premier and Victoria’s longest serving Education Minister.
Werribee Secondary College’s work supporting students to deepen their engagement with cultural diversity and global connectedness saw it receive the Dr Lawrie Shears Outstanding Global Teaching and Learning Award.
Wangaratta West Primary School was the recipient of the Outstanding School Improvement award, while Bentleigh West Primary School secured the Outstanding Inclusive Education Team award.
Swan Hill Specialist School was awarded the Outstanding Koorie Education Team prize for its work embedding Indigenous perspectives in learning.
Clare Monk at Warrnambool West Primary School and Kimberley Tempest at Cobram Secondary College were named the state’s Outstanding Primary and Secondary Principals. Kendall Heycox of Corryong College and Elevation Secondary College’s Alice Hu were also recognised as Outstanding Early Career Primary and Secondary teachers.
This year’s awards were held on the day that Australia celebrates World Teachers’ Day. The awards support the continued professional development of staff, with professional learning grants of up to $25,000 for the winner in each category.
Victorian Education Excellence Awards Winners 2023:
Lindsay Thompson Excellence in Education: Balwyn High School
Individual Awards:
Outstanding Primary Principal: Clare Monk, Warrnambool West Primary School
Colin Simpson Outstanding Secondary Principal: Kimberley Tempest, Cobram Secondary College
Outstanding Primary Teacher: Ruth Chambers, Wonthaggi Primary School
Outstanding Secondary Teacher: Elizabeth Ferguson, Pascoe Vale Girls College
Outstanding Early Career Primary Teacher: Kendall Heycox, Corryong College
Outstanding Early Career Secondary Teacher: Alice Hu, Elevation Secondary College
Outstanding Physical Education and Activity Teacher: Paul Baks, Belle Vue Park Primary School
Outstanding Business Manager: Sharon Veale, Warringa Park School
Team Award Winners:
Outstanding School Improvement: Wangaratta West Primary School
Outstanding Education Support Team: Mooroopna Park Primary School
Outstanding Inclusive Education Team: Bentleigh West Primary School
Outstanding Koorie Education Team: Swan Hill Specialist School
Outstanding Provision for High-Ability Students (Primary): Daylesford Primary School
Outstanding Provision for High-Ability Students (Secondary): Balwyn High School
Dr Lawrie Shears Outstanding Global Teaching and Learning: Werribee Secondary College
For more information on the finalists and the winners, visit vic.gov.au/VEEA.
