On Friday 7 August, more than 600 Principals, deputies, department heads, and teachers gathered at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney for The Australian Education Awards 2026.
Now in its ninth year, the Awards recognise educators and leaders who make an outstanding impact on their students, schools, and communities. As Australia’s leading independent education awards, they celebrate excellence across schools, principals, department heads, and teachers nationwide.
The black-tie gala event was opened by Federal Education Minister, Jason Clare, who also presented the final award of the night – Australian School Principal of the Year.
Winners were recognised across 29 categories spanning student wellbeing, best use of technology, First Nations education, and many more.
The top accolades of the night were taken out by Stuartholme School Principal Daniel Crump, who won Australian School Principal of the Year, and Haileybury, which was named Campion Education’s Australian School of the Year.
The Awards also spotlight rising talent in Australian education. The FACTS Education Rising Star of the Year Award — honouring early-career teachers who lift student outcomes, pursue growth and show real leadership promise — went to Jade Bassett, a multi-award-winning science teacher and STEM leader at Rutherford Technology High School in regional NSW.
The Educator would like to extend a big congratulations to all the winners and Excellence Awardees. Your well-deserved awards demonstrate the meaningful change you are making in Australia’s thriving education sector.
A special thanks to all of those who supported the event, including our Gold Award Partner, Woolworths at Work; our Silver Award Partners, A Team Tuition, Campion Education, Essential Assessment, Kingswood College, OneSchool Global, Street Science, Toddle, and our other valued sponsors, the Australian Boarding Schools Association, FACTS, Kahoot!, PeopleBench, Captain Cook Cruises, The Jackson, Lois & Co, McCarroll’s, Lexus Chatswood, and Mount Pleasant.
Your support is greatly valued and appreciated.
Without further ado, here are the Excellence Awardees for the Australian Education Awards 2026.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Department Head of the Year
Winner: Belinda Vlasenko, Trinity College Beenleigh
Excellence Awardees:
Jessica Remi, Joseph Banks Secondary College
Joni Cameron, Coombabah State High School
Katherine Blake, Loganlea SHS
Kathryn McKenna, MacGregor State High School
Katrina Dalglish, Clairvaux MacKillop College
Lauren Askin, Yeronga State High School
Rebecca Isakson, Park Ridge State High School
Deputy Principal of the Year
Winner: Dr Bek Duyckers, Coomera Anglican College
Excellence Awardees:
Danni Mattiazzo, Larrakeyah Primary School
David Matheson, Southern Cross Catholic College
Raihana Ferdous, Australian International Islamic College
Dr Robert Jacob, Casey Grammar School
Tameeka Schelks, Coombabah State High School
FACTS Education Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Jade Bassett, Rutherford Technology High School
Excellence Awardees:
Alexandra Delaney, Guthridge
Ashleigh Jones, Salesian College Chadstone
Ava Sorgel, Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Bianca Tibos, James Fallon High School
Joel Connolly, Townsville Grammar School
Ruby Harris, Westminster School
Taylor Linz, Riverbanks College B-12
Sponsored by
ESSENTIAL ASSESSMENT Primary School Principal of the Year – Government
Winner: Fathma Mauger, Larrakeyah Primary School
Excellence Awardees:
Allan Ison, Galston Public School
Charlie Moncada, Wilsonton State School
Deborah Docherty, Jilliby Public School
Hayden Beaton, Mooroopna Park Primary School
Martine Gill, Clover Hill State School
Matthew Bulger, Yarrilee State School
Matthew Carter, Grose View Public School
Sponsored by
Primary School Principal of the Year – Non-government
Winner: Emma Fowler, St Raphael's School
Excellence Awardee:
Renae Dunleavy, St Patrick's School Lithgow
Primary School Teacher of the Year – Government
Winner: Emily Graham, Tagai State College, St Paul's Campus
Excellence Awardees:
Aaron Mann, Warilla North
Cassie Walker, Holland Park State School
Jill Spicer, Forest Lake State School
Leanne Taylor, Kingswood
Lisa Fleming, Stretton State College
Mara Graham, Clover Hill State School
Primary School Teacher of the Year - Non-Government
Winner: Shane Bell, Casey Grammar School
Excellence Awardees:
Andy Tan, Guildford Grammar School
Brooke Schembri, Mastery Schools Australia- Southport
Ciara Loughland, Pittwater House
Kate Archer, Loreto Kirribilli
Makiko Ryland, Kincoppal-Rose Bay School
Saskia Pietrobon, John Paul College
Susan Grover, Caulfield Grammar School
Kahoot! School Principal of the Year – Government
Winner: Kristie de Brenni, Queensland Pathways State College
Excellence Awardees:
Chris Owen, Bremer State High School
Julie Learoyd, Hervey Bay State High School
Karen Tanks, Mansfield State High School
Kylie Eggers, Australian Science and Mathematics School
Matthew McCurry, Hospital School SA
Rachel Byrne, Hunter Sports High School
Sharon Amos , Park Ridge State High School
Sponsored by
School Principal of the Year - Non-government
Winner: Daniel Crump, Stuartholme School
Excellence Awardees:
Ashleigh Martin, Caulfield Grammar School
Deborah Netolicky, Walford Anglican School for Girls
Kate Mortimer, Sheldon College
Lisa Moloney, MLC School
Mary Farah, St Aloysius College
Dr Nicole Archard, Loreto Kirribilli
Secondary School Teacher of the Year – Government
Winner: David Moran, Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Excellence Awardees:
Brittni Balogh, Joseph Banks Secondary College
Chelsea Schmidt, Central Yorke School
Erin Pender, Loganlea SHS
Holly Wedd, Orara High School
Jade Bassett, Rutherford Technology High School
Sally Atkins, Toormina High School
Tania Malik, Coombabah State High School
Secondary School Teacher of the Year - Non-Government
Winner: Duncan Berg, Haileybury
Excellence Awardees:
Genevieve Comino, Redlands
Lesley Kaye, PLC Perth
Matt Pitman, Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs
Dr. Maynard Victor Erece, Clairvaux MacKillop College
Paul Stockdale, Mentone Girls' Grammar
Rachel Thompson, Marist Catholic College Penshurst
Dr Steven Griffiths, Clayfield College
CURRICULUM AWARDS
Best Co-Curricular Program
Winner: Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Excellence Awardees:
Caningeraba State School
Kinross Wolaroi School
Lobethal Lutheran School
Marsden SHS
Mentone Grammar
Sheldon College
Wesley College (WesleyNEXT program)
Street Science Best STEM Program
Winner: Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
Excellence Awardees:
Australian Science and Mathematics School
Brisbane South State Secondary College
Brisbane State High School
Clairvaux MacKillop STEM Program
Griffith High School
Joseph Banks Secondary College and Western Australian Space Science Education Centre
Queenwood School
Sponsored by
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Toddle Best Use of Technology
Winner: St Michael's Grammar School
Excellence Awardees:
Emmanuel Catholic College
Haileybury
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
Marsden SHS
St Andrew's Anglican College
Trinity College (SA)
Wesley College
Sponsored by
OneSchool Global Innovation in Curriculum Design
Winner: Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Excellence Awardees:
Broadbeach State School
Corinda SHS
SCOTS PGC College
Westbourne Grammar School
Y Schools Queensland
Yeronga State High School
Sponsored by
Innovation in Learning Environment Design
Winner: Ballina Coast High School
Excellence Awardees:
Haileybury Pangea
Hillcrest Christian College - Virtual Learning Community
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
Marsden SHS
OneSchool Global - Mt Victoria Campus
The Knox School
Westbourne Grammar School
SCHOOL AWARDS
Best First Nations Education Program
Winner: Barker College
Excellence Awardees:
Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Brisbane Boys' College
Coombabah State High School
Haileybury Rendall School
Loreto College Ballarat
St Martins Lutheran College
St. Andrew's Cathedral School
Kingswood College Best Professional Learning Program
Winner: Methodist Ladies College, Claremont WA
Excellence Awardees:
Haileybury
Marsden SHS
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Parramatta Marist High School
Sirius College
St Margaret's Anglican Girls School
Stuartholme School
Sponsored by
PeopleBench Best School Strategic Plan
Winner: MacKillop Education Waranara School
Excellence Awardees:
Arndell Anglican College
Bomaderry High School
Genazzano FCJ College
Hillcrest Christian College
Kingswood College
St Mary's College Adelaide
Walford Anglican School for Girls
Sponsored by
Best Student Wellbeing Program
Winner: Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Excellence Awardees:
Adelaide International School
Ravenswood School for Girls
St Saviour’s College
St Ursula's College
Toowoomba Grammar school
Yarrilee State School
Yeronga State High School
Australian Boarding Schools Association Boarding School of the Year
Winner: Torres Strait Kaziw Meta
Excellence Awardees:
Kincoppal Rose Bay
Ravenswood School for Girls
St Joseph's College
Stuartholme School Boarding House
Sponsored by
Woolworths at Work Primary School of the Year – Government
Winner: The Entrance Public School
Excellence Awardees:
Broadbeach State School
Clover Hill State School
Kingswood Primary School
Larrakeyah Primary School
Mosman Park School for Deaf Children
Wattle Grove Primary School
Windang Public School
Sponsored by
Primary School of the Year – Non-government
Winner: Haileybury
Excellence Awardees:
Cornish College
Lobethal Lutheran School
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Sheldon College
St Margaret's Anglican Girls School
St Peter's Woodlands Grammar School
Regional School of the Year
Winner: Haileybury Rendall School
Excellence Awardees:
Berri Regional Secondary College
Bishop Druitt College
St Andrew's Anglican College
St Columba Anglican School
The Rockhampton Grammar School
Townsville Grammar School
Trinity Anglican College
A Team Tuition Secondary School of the Year – Government
Winner: Park Ridge State High School
Excellence Awardees:
Hunter Sports High School
James Fallon High School
Joseph Banks Secondary College
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics & Technology
Queensland Pathways State College
The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School
Yeronga State High School
Sponsored by
Secondary School of the Year – Non-government
Winner: Southern Cross Catholic College
Excellence Awardees:
Haileybury
Loreto Kirribilli
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Ormiston College
St Margaret's Berwick Grammar
St Michael's Grammar School
Special Education School of the Year
Winner: Atwell College
Excellence Awardees:
Mancel College
Mosman Park School for Deaf Children
Toogoolawa School
Toormina High School
NATIONAL AWARDS
Campion Education Australian School of the Year
Winner: Haileybury
Excellence Awardees:
Atwell College
Park Ridge State High School
Southern Cross Catholic College
The Entrance Public School
Sponsored by
Australian School Principal of the Year
Winner: Daniel Crump, Stuartholme School
Excellence Awardees:
Emma Fowler, St Raphael’s School
Fathma Mauger, Larrakeyah Primary School
Kristie de Brenni, Queensland Pathways State College