Thirteen teachers and school leaders from across Australia received the 2026 Schools Plus Teaching Awards at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday, recognised for approaches aimed at improving learning and wellbeing outcomes for students, particularly those facing disadvantage.
Now in its 10th year, the national program celebrates educators working to remove barriers to learning, the organisation said. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare presented the awards.
"These teachers are changing lives and opening the doors to a brighter future for young people," Clare said. "Our teachers do the most important job in the world, and we can't thank them enough or too many times. That's why these awards mean so much."
Educators cited for data-driven approaches
Schools Plus CEO Sherrill Nixon said winners showed what happens when teachers study their students' individual needs and act on that insight.
"These are teachers who are curious, who ask questions, who don't accept the status quo and who use data and research to find better ways to support their students," Nixon said. "What these educators also have in common is innovation. They're trying something new, testing whether it works, improving it and then expanding it."
David Gonski, chair of the Schools Plus Pioneers in Philanthropy group, said supporting students remains a shared responsibility. "Every child should have the opportunity to flourish at school, regardless of the circumstances into which they are born," Gonski said. "Exceptional teachers play a critical role in making that possible, particularly for students who face barriers to learning and opportunity."
Nixon added that the awards align with the organisation's broader goal. "This is what Schools Plus is ultimately trying to achieve, making sure that where a child starts in life doesn't determine where they can go," she said.
Each award winner receives a $20,000 teaching fellowship, including $10,000 towards a high-impact school visit and a year of professional development, Schools Plus said. Winners join an alumni network of more than 150 past recipients.
One winner, Tammy Anderson, principal of Briar Road Public School in New South Wales, was cited by Clare in federal Parliament a day before the ceremony. Clare told the House that Briar Road Public School's phonics results rose from about 20% to 80% over three years under Anderson's leadership, calling her "an absolutely awesome principal, leading a fantastic team and winning an award at the Schools Plus Teaching Awards."
Awards land amid ongoing workforce pressure
The recognitions come as Australia's education sector continues to confront staffing shortages that disproportionately affect regional and disadvantaged schools. A 2026 analysis found that shortages disproportionately affect regional and disadvantaged schools, where 63% and 67% of institutions respectively face significant staffing gaps. The federal government's National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, first agreed by education ministers in December 2022, has continued tracking recruitment and retention progress, with a February 2026 update on outcomes published by the Department of Education.
Separately, undergraduate teaching applications climbed 6.5% year-on-year for 2026 intakes, while offers to domestic students rose 6.3%, according to preliminary Department of Education figures – a reversal of prior-year declines.
The 2026 winners are: Andrew Clifton (Euabalong West Public School, NSW); Brad Headlam (North Geelong Secondary College, VIC); Diane Pashen (Bellbird Park State Secondary College, QLD); Dawn Grant-Skiba (Warrah Specialist School, NSW); Eloise Boyd (Northam Primary School, WA); Joshua Basford (Thebarton Senior College, SA); Kate O'Donnell (GOAL College, NSW); Kaylene Mladenovic (Cleveland Education and Training Centre, QLD); Olivia Watson (East Kalgoorlie Primary School, WA); Samuel Charlton (McAuley Community School, SA); Stephanie Insanally (Ngutu College, SA); Steve Kanowski (Berrinba East State School, QLD); and Tammy Anderson (Briar Road Public School, NSW).