Revealed: The Australian Education Awards 2024 winners

Revealed: The Australian Education Awards 2024 winners

On Friday night, the best of what Australia’s education system has to offer was recognised and celebrated at The Australian Education Awards 2024.

The Awards, now in their seventh year, showcase the achievements of the country’s top performing schools, principals, department heads and teachers across all states and territories, and all school sectors.

Nearly 800 attendees converged at the Star Event Centre in Sydney on Friday 9 August when winners were recognised across 29 categories, including Best Student Wellbeing Program, Education Rising Star of the Year, and Australian School of the Year.

Partnering with The Educator for the Australian Education Awards 2024 was Prime Super, an independent profit-to-members superannuation fund providing superannuation and retirement solutions to Australians for over 30 years.

“Prime Super’s support of the Australian Education Awards as Event Partner in 2024 is part of our commitment to supporting our many current and future members in the education sector,” Billie Atanasova, National Sales Manager, Corporate Super at Prime Super told The Educator.

“As a super fund we have a strong affinity with the teachers, principals and support staff in schools who are working every day to elevate the futures of others. We share a similar commitment in that we are working every day to help our members create the best possible future outcomes for themselves.”

Without further ado, here are the Excellence Awardees for the Australian Education Awards 2024.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS 

Department Head of the Year 

Winner: Dr Todd Zadow, St Margaret's Berwick Grammar 

Excellence Awardees: 

Brigida Zagora, Santa Sabina College 

Danielle Fairthorne, Kincoppal - Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart, Rose Bay, NSW 

Danni Mattiazzo, Larrakeyah Primary School 

Jack Treby, Indooroopilly State High School 

Jenna Cullen, Marsden State High School 

Samantha Andonis, Trinity College (SA) 

Paul Terechow, Bellbird Park State Secondary College 

Rebecca Isakson, Park Ridge State High School 

Strak Kosanovic, Brisbane South State Secondary College 

 

Deputy Principal of the Year 

Winner: Carla Pantano, Bellbird Park State Secondary College 

Excellence Awardees: 

Catherine Higgins, Marsden State High School 

Dr Steven Middleton, St Margaret's Berwick Grammar 

John Wigan, Asquith Girls High School 

Katherine Adnett, Pulteney Grammar School 

Laura McRae, Orara High School 

Tom Bates, Corinda State High School 

  

Education Rising Star of the Year 

Winner: Dominika Kapustka, Haileybury 

Excellence Awardees: 

Adam Poulakidas, Marsden State High School 

Ashleigh Jones, Salesian College 

Elizabeth McNulty, Bellbird Park State Secondary College 

Jabez Castray, Faith Lutheran College, Plainland 

Jade Bassett, Rutherford Technology High School 

Sam Lowry, St Patrick's College Townsville 

Sarah Dundon, Port Augusta Secondary School 

Zara Baldwin, Bishop Druitt College 

 

Primary School Principal of the Year – Government 

Winner: Loreta Kocovska, Windang Public School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Bronwyn Jeffree, Tarrawanna Public School 

Fathma Mauger, Larrakeyah Primary School 

Lisa Parrello, St Marys North Public School 

Stephen Josey, Labrador State School 

 

Primary School Principal of the Year – Non-government 

Winner: Helen Finlay, St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School 

Excellence Awardee: 

Stephanie Kriewaldt, Lobethal Lutheran School 

 

Primary School Teacher of the Year – Government 

Winner: Katrina Paton, Springvale Park SDS 

Excellence Awardees: 

Carmel Spruhan, Larrakeyah Primary School 

Georgia Gray, Kunyung Primary School 

Melinda Oldham, Glen Huntly 

 

Primary School Teacher of the Year - Non-Government 

Winner: Tracy Foyster, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Danielle Searles, Casey Grammar Schooll 

Kylie Chesterfield, Sunshine Coast Grammar School 

Lisa Stern, Melbourne Montessori School 

Maria Lee, Pymble Ladies' College (Junior School) 

Nicole Vander Vinne, Presbyterian Ladies' College 

Regina Brennan, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School 

Trent Davis, A. B. Paterson College 

 

School Principal of the Year – Government 

Winner: Goldy Sodhi, Kingston State College 

Excellence Awardees: 

Christopher Robertson, Aurora College  

Helen Jamieson, Corinda State High School  

Kimberley Tempest, Cobram Secondary College 

Liz Foster, Wavell State High School  

Marcus Jones, Marsden State High School  

Rachel Byrne, Hunter Sports High School 

Simon Done, Maryborough State High School 

 

Prime Super School Principal of the Year - Non-government 

Winner: Anne Johnstone, Ravenswood School for Girls 

Excellence Awardees: 

Deborah Netolicky, Walford Anglican School for Girls 

Dr Adrian Camm, Westbourne Grammar School 

Dr Annette Rome, St Margaret's Berwick Grammar 

Felicity Marlow, Norwest Christian College 

Justin Beckett, Arden Anglican School (Secondary Campus) 

Kim Wickham, Loreto College Coorparoo 

Simon Shepherd, Westminster School 

Sponsored by Prime Super

 

Secondary School Teacher of the Year – Government 

Winner: Nicole (Nicki) Crerar, Corinda State High School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Dr Vladmir Tosic, North Sydney Boys High School 

Elise Taylor, Brisbane South State Secondary College 

Katherine Chisholm, Boonah SHS 

Kimberly Whitehouse, Indooroopilly State High School 

Kylie Winslade, Orange High School 

Luda Kovalev, Loganlea State High School 

Nicole Goodwin, Bentleigh Secondary College 

 

Fish Nankivell Secondary School Teacher of the Year - Non-Government 

Winner: Michelle Chomiak, St Mark's Anglican Community School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Colette Anderson, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School 

Gaile Racey, Hale School 

Jia Liao, Presbyterian Ladies' College 

Lachlan Hall, Christ Church Grammar School 

Michele Hockey, Central Coast Grammar School 

Mitchell Mills, Saint Stephen's College 

Nischal Lata, Minarah College 

Rachael Tharle, St. Kevin's College Toorak 

Sponsored by Fish Nankivell

 

CURRICULUM AWARDS 

Clipboard Best Co-Curricular Program 

Winner: Maryborough State High School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Adelaide Botanic High School 

Coomera Anglican College 

Emmaus College 

Heritage Christian School 

Loreto College Coorparoo 

Sunshine Coast Grammar School 

The King's School, Tudor House 

Sponsored by Clipboard

 

Best STEM Program 

Winner: Trinity College (SA) 

Excellence Awardees: 

Brisbane South State Secondary College 

Marist Catholic College Penshurst 

Pymble Ladies' College (Junior School) 

Queensland Academy for Science - Mathematics and Technology 

Queenwood 

St Margaret's Anglican Girls School 

Westbourne College Sydney 

 

Best Use of Technology 

Winner: Ravenswood School for Girls 

Excellence Awardees: 

Canterbury College 

Larrakeyah Primary School 

Marsden State High School 

Ormiston College 

Westbourne Grammar School 

 

Grok Academy Innovation in Curriculum Design 

Winner: St Peter's Woodlands Grammar School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Asquith Girls High School 

Faith Lutheran College, Plainland 

Faith Lutheran College, Redlands 

Matthew Flinders Anglican College 

Redlands 

Servite College  

The Rockhampton Grammar School 

Sponsored by Grok Academy

 

 

Innovation in Learning Environment Design 

Winner: St Michael's Grammar School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Haileybury Pangea 

Immanuel College 

Loreto Kirribilli  

St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls 

St Patrick's College Townsville 

Stuartholme School 

 

SCHOOL AWARDS 

Ideagen Best First Nations Education Program 

Winner: Lake Cargelligo Central School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Bangor Public School 

Curran Public School 

Indooroopilly State High School 

Revesby Public, Picnic Point Public, Picnic Point High School 

Toronto Public School 

Wiluna Remote Community School 

Sponsored by Ideagen

 

Best Professional Learning Program 

Winner: Benowa State High School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Aspect Schools 

Brisbane Grammar School 

Kedron State High School 

Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School 

Mt St Michael's College 

Oakhill Drive Public School 

Queensland Children's Hospital School 

Suzanne Cory High School 

Wattle Grove Public School 

 

Best School Strategic Plan 

Winner: Westbourne Grammar School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Global Village Learning 

Hills Grammar 

Presbyterian Ladies' College 

Strathcona Girls Grammar 

The Rockhampton Grammar School 

 

Best Student Wellbeing Program 

Winner: Wesley College 

Excellence Awardees: 

Bentleigh Secondary College 

Haileybury Rendall School 

John Paul College 

Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School 

Mooroopna Park Primary School 

Ravenswood School for Girls 

St Luke's Grammar School 

Trinity Anglican School - Kewarra Beach 

 

Australian Boarding Schools Association Boarding School of the Year 

Winner: St Joseph's Nudgee College 

Excellence Awardees: 

Caulfield Grammar School 

Ravenswood School for Girls 

St Margaret's Anglican Girls School 

St Ursula's College Toowoomba 

Stuartholme School 

The Rockhampton Grammar School 

Walford Anglican School for Girls 

Sponsored by Australian Boarding Schools Association

 

NRL Schools Primary School of the Year – Government 

Winner: Berry Public School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Cessnock East Public School 

Galston Public School 

Governor Philip King Public School 

Harrisdale Primary School 

Hurstville Public School 

Yates Avenue Public School 

Sponsored by NRL Schools

 

Primary School of the Year – Non-government 

Winner: Haileybury 

Excellence Awardees: 

Canberra Girls Grammar School - Junior School 

Claremont College 

Melbourne Montessori School 

Ormiston College 

St Michael's Grammar School 

Trinity Anglican School White Rock Campus Primary 

 

Prime Super Regional School of the Year 

Winner: Wiluna Remote Community School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Barham High School 

Haileybury Rendall School 

Maryborough State High School 

Murwillumbah Public School 

Riverside Christian College 

Sunshine Coast Grammar School 

Trinity Anglican School 

Sponsored by Prime Super

 

AFL Schools Secondary School of the Year – Government 

Winner: Hunter Sports High School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Bellbird Park State Secondary College 

Bentleigh Secondary College 

Corinda State High School 

Secondary College of Languages 

Sponsored by AFL Schools

 

Winc Education Secondary School of the Year – Non-government 

Winner: St Andrew's Anglican College 

Excellence Awardees: 

Emmanuel Catholic College - Western Australia 

Haileybury 

Ormiston College 

Santa Sabina College 

St Laurence's College 

Trinity College Beenleigh 

Westminster School 

Sponsored by Winc Education

 

Special Education School of the Year 

Winner: The Hills School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Five Islands School 

Mancel College 

St Gabriel's School 

Waratah Special Developmental School 

 

NATIONAL AWARDS 

Australian School of the Year 

Winner: Hunter Sports High School 

Excellence Awardees: 

Berry Public School  

Haileybury    

St Andrew’s Anglican College  

This Hills School 

 

Australian School Principal of the Year 

Winner: Anne Johnstone, Ravenswood School for Girls 

Excellence Awardees: 

Goldy Sodhi, Kingston State College  

Helen Finlay, St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School  

Loreta Kocovska, Windang Public School 

 

See full list of winners and excellence awardees on the event website here.