Primary School teacher Miss Amy Cahill at Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast has been selected as one of 13 winners in the National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA) 2023.
Miss Cahill was the only educator in Queensland to win the prestigious NEiTA Apple Award and a $5,000 professional development grant from the NEiTA Foundation.
The NEiTA Foundation received over 2,500 nominations and conducted over 50 video interviews to reach its 2023 final shortlist.
The foundation recognises teachers and leaders who represent excellence and help to advance education at local, regional or national levels.
“Amy was nominated as a teacher of unequal commitment, not only to the students in her care, but to the provision of extensive co-curricular opportunities for students P-12, particularly in Dance and Musical Theatre. Her passion for creative arts drives her to provide rich opportunities for students in this pursuit,” the foundation noted.
Head of Primary, Mrs Trudi Edwards, said Miss Cahill’s award win was an outstanding achievement for her as an educator and another proud endorsement for the College.
The Flinders Primary School was named the Australian Primary School of the Year (Non-Government) in the 2023 Educator Awards.
“Miss Amy Cahill has been recognised for her commitment to quality teaching and her active and passionate involvement in our co-curricular program at Flinders,” Mrs Edwards said.
“At Flinders, we pride ourselves on offering our staff diverse and valuable opportunities to professionally develop and explore their talents, so we are thrilled to see Amy recognised for her commitment,” she said.
Mrs Edwards said Miss Cahill embraced many opportunities in 2023 to grow her professional skills and to support students through innovative learning experiences and programs.
“For example, Amy guided our Year 5 students through our bespoke Flinders Mathematics Mastery Classes to help them develop a deep conceptual understanding of Mathematics,” she said.
“Amy also stepped into one of the main roles to facilitate our three-day Flinders Design for Impact Summit design thinking immersion experience, which challenged our Year 5 students to create a more sustainable, healthy and inclusive community as a vision for the Sunshine Coast in 2050.
“On the co-curricular front, Amy managed our Primary School’s Touch Football Program, mentored our creative arts students through musical productions and on a tour to the United Kingdom and led our nationally-ranked Secondary Dance Team, drawing on her expertise as a qualified dancer and dance teacher.”
“We are fortunate to have Amy as part of our dedicated Primary School staff team.”
Miss Cahill said she was thrilled to receive a NEiTA Award and found her role as an educator to be ‘incredibly rewarding’.
“Children possess an innate sense of joy, curiosity and creativity that can teach us, as adults, to appreciate the small wonders of life,” Miss Cahill said.
“As an educator, I wholeheartedly encourage and support my students to embrace their curiosity, ask questions and find joy in learning,” she said.
“I strive to infuse creativity into the content I teach, fostering a lifelong love for learning, and to ensure that every student experiences a sense of belonging and empowerment – both in the classroom and beyond through co-curricular experiences.
“Knowing that I am shaping the future by educating and preparing the next generation of leaders, professionals and innovators gives me a profound sense of purpose. I love my job!”
For more information about Matthew Flinders Anglican College, visit www.mfac.edu.au.
