Some of the state’s top public-school educators will get the chance to travel overseas to research their area of expertise after winning a 2026 Premier’s Teacher Scholarship.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the scholarships are designed to support teachers to explore their focus areas, with the ultimate aim of enriching the learning experiences of students in the classroom.
“From their study tour experiences, scholars will gain confidence to apply new ideas, new teaching methods and new technologies in their teaching,” Mr Minns said.
“In a time of rapid social, economic and technological change, this professional focus is exactly what is required of teachers as they prepare students for their future as innovators and achievers.”
Fifteen teachers and principals from NSW schools received the scholarships:
Premier’s Youth Depression Awareness Scholarship
Betty Tian Yi Li (Macarthur Girls High School) – “Neuroaffirmative practices and suicide prevention in autistic teenage girls”
Emma Nile (Campbell House School) – “Integrating therapeutic and justice-informed early interventions in EDBD school settings”
Premier’s Creativity Across the Curriculum Scholarship
John Dennison (Barker College) – “Future Craft: How hands-on making can realign design technology education from digital overload”
Premier’s Early Childhood Education Scholarship
Deborah Bennetts (John Brotchie Nursery School) – “Teaching literacy and numeracy in the early years without ‘schoolification’”
Premier’s Economics and Business Educators NSW Commerce Scholarship
Rachel Noonan (San Clemente Catholic College, Mayfield) – “Creating Future-Focused Learners: Innovative approaches to teaching the new commerce syllabus”
Premier’s Rural and Remote Education Scholarship
Joshua Crispin (Menindee Central School) – “Using instructional playbooks to lead explicit teaching in hard-to-staff rural and remote schools”
Premier’s History Teachers’ Association History Scholarship
Michael Klipin (Bishop Druitt College, Coffs Harbour) – “Forgotten History: Civilian narratives and the legacy of U.S. bombing along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in northern and eastern Cambodia”
David Van Tol (Kambala School, Rose Bay) – “Myth, Memory and Meaning: Teaching Cuba 1940 -1991 as a new HSC national study”
Premier’s Quality Teaching Scholarship
Melinda Kearns (Conservatorium High School, Sydney / Moorefield Girls High School) – “How cross-pollination can create next-generation school mentorship”
Premier’s Economics Scholarship
Julie Caddy (Merewether High School) – “Investigating strategies to encourage female students in studying HSC economics”
Premier’s Aboriginal Education Scholarship
Tammy Anderson (Briar Road Public School) – “Investigating cultural influences on engagement, focusing on transition points for students”
Premier’s STEM and Technology Scholarship
Tara Green (Elizabeth Macarthur High School) – “Strengthening earth science education through a STEM and First Nations lens in NSW public schools”
Premier’s Mathematics Scholarship
Holly Wedd (Orara High School) – “Enhancing mathematics learning through artificial intelligence”
Premier’s Vocational Education in Schools Scholarship
Megan Jennings (Belmont High School) – “Inclusive pathways from school to work for students with disabilities”
Premier’s Inclusive Education Scholarship
Jenny Kennedy (Bulli High School) – “Translating and implementing global practices of inclusive education for students with autism spectrum disorder”
Each winner will undertake a five-week study tour.
The principal of Briar Road Public School, Ms Tammy Anderson, will use her scholarship to explore how to better use cultural practices to help Indigenous students transition through the schooling system.
“It’s always a challenging point in time for children,” Ms Anderson said.
“I want to explore how cultural strengths and community connections can actually ease transitions for children as they move through. We know when they have a successful transition, they go on to have a successful school life. “
“I’ve got an opportunity through the Premier Scholarship to go up to the Torres Strait, across to New Zealand, through to the US and on to Canada, have a look at how First Nations are having success in the space with their communities and their school systems.”
Mr Joshua Crispin from Menindee Central School will use his scholarship to explore how to improve the practice of explicit teaching in rural and remote settings.
“My topic is using instructional playbooks to embed explicit teaching in all NSW rural and remote schools,” he told ABC radio.
“When you think of the term playbook, it’s often popularised by sporting teams – a document where exceptional teams record their exceptional plays.”
“I’m looking at developing a step-by-step document where schools can codify really high-quality teaching techniques.”
The acting Minister for Education and Early Learning, Courtney Houssos, said the scholarship program is designed to make the best teachers in the state even better.
“Since they started in 1999, more than 570 Premier’s Teacher Scholarship recipients have received fantastic opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge in a chosen field of expertise,” Minister Houssos said.
“When our teachers return from their study tours, I am sure their students will benefit from the knowledge they’ve gained, and this will enhance their learning experiences in the classroom.”
Sponsoring organisations who have helped to make the award possible include: Western Sydney University, the University of Sydney, the University of New England, Teachers Mutual Bank, Reserve Bank of Australia, NSW Education Standards Authority, History Teachers Association NSW, Hicksons Lawyers, Economics and Business Educators NSW, Early Childhood Australia NSW, and the Anika Foundation.
Further information on each scholarship can be found here.
