
On Friday night, the best of what Australia’s education system has to offer was recognised and celebrated at The Australian Education Awards 2025.
The Awards, now in their eighth 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.
More than 600 attendees converged at the Star Event Centre in Sydney on Friday 8 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.
The top accolades of the night – Wayground (formerly Quizziz) Australian School of the Year and Compass Australian School Principal of the Year – were taken out by Hunter Sports High School and Dr Adrian Camm, Principal of Westbourne Grammar School, respectively.
John de la Motte, CEO of Compass, said the decision to sponsor the Australian School Principal of the Year reflects the company’s deep commitment to recognising and celebrating the exceptional leadership within the Australian education sector.
“We believe that school principals play a pivotal role in shaping the future of students and fostering thriving learning environments,” de la Motte told The Educator.
“By sponsoring this prestigious award, Compass aims to highlight the dedication, innovation, and profound impact that principals have on their school communities, reinforcing our shared vision for educational excellence across Australia.”
Without further ado, here are the Excellence Awardees for the Australian Education Awards 2025.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Department Head of the Year
Winner: Marten Visser, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
Excellence Awardees:
Antonella Dolores, NextSense School
Belinda Vlasenko, Trinity College Beenleigh
Bianca Battoraro, Townsville Grammar School
Corinne Salmon, Loreto College Coorparoo
Lauren Fletcher, Loganlea State High School, Loganlea
Mark Bretherton, Holland Park State High School
Deputy Principal of the Year
Winner: Michael Ha, Toogoolawa School
Excellence Awardees:
Ali Barr, Westminster Preparatory School
Charlotte Lush, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
Christopher Nastrom-Smith, Loreto College Coorparoo
Danni Mattiazzo, Larrakeyah Primary School
Dr Steven Middleton, St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
Ita Garvey, St. Peter’s Catholic Primary School
Justin Clinch, Coombabah SHS
Meagan King, Canterbury College
FACTS Management Australia Education Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Catriona Vo, Groves Christian College
Excellence Awardees:
Amy Griffin, John Paul College
Emily Graham, Tagai State College
Isabelle Coote, Blue Mountains Grammar School
Joshua Kerr, Trinity College (SA)
Ruby Harris, Westminster School
Zachary Mansfield, Brisbane State High School
Zoe Anlezark, Mastery Schools Australia – Springfield
Primary School Principal of the Year – Government
Winner: Steven Trotter, Ashby
Excellence Awardees:
Allan Ison, Galston Public School
Carly Woods, Gillwinga Public School
Charlie Moncada, Wilsonton SS
Fathma Mauger, Larrakeyah Primary School
Jordan Warren, Rosewood Downs Primary School
Primary School Principal of the Year – Non-government
Winner: Stephanie Kriewaldt, Lobethal Lutheran School
Excellence Awardees:
Angela Drysdale, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Leanne Meehan, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School
Lindsay McQuattie, John Paul College
Matthew Noel, Hills International College
Monica Palmer, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Georges Hall
Nicole Armatas, St Michael’s Grammar School
Terri Taylor, St. Michael’s Lutheran Primary School
Primary School Teacher of the Year – Government
Winner: Chrissy Marcelli, West Leeming Primary School
Excellence Awardees:
Alison Diamond, Yowie Bay Public School
Lisa Fleming, Stretton State College
Primary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government
Winner: Jo Muirhead, Coomera Anglican College
Excellence Awardees:
Angie Stitcher, Trinity Grammar Preparatory School
Brooke Collington, OneSchool Global – Adelaide Campus
Chloe Brown, John Paul College
Daniel Silla, Infant Jesus School
Eliza Nolan, Strathcona Girls Grammar
Gregory Milholland, Xavier College
Nathan Stubbs, Redlands
School Principal of the Year – Government
Winner: Marcus Jones, Marsden State High School
Excellence Awardees:
Anne Mclauchlan, The Gap State High School
Heather Murry, Kirwan State High School
Helene Hiotis, Bentleigh Secondary College
Laura McRae, Orara High School
Lynette Corletto, Naracoorte High School
Rachel Byrne, Hunter Sports High School
Sharon Amos, Park Ridge State High School
School Principal of the Year – Non-government
Winner: Dr. Adrian Camm, Westbourne Grammar School
Excellence Awardees:
Catherine Shaw, The Nature School
Corey Tavella, Thomas More College
Dr. Adrian Camm, Westbourne Grammar School
Ros Curtis AM, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Ross Patterson, Scotch Oakburn College
Sharyn Angel, Mastery Schools Australia – Springfield
Tammy Prestage, Southern Cross Catholic College
Secondary School Teacher of the Year – Government
Winner: Kylie Dark, Bentleigh Secondary College
Excellence Awardees:
Bernie Bryan, Maryborough State High School
Ineke McGuire, Shailer Park State High School
Jake Hartland, Marsden State High School
Luda Kovalev, Loganlea State High School
Nathan Pickels, Brisbane South State Secondary College
Taylor Linz, Riverbank College
Secondary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government
Winner: Rachael Riley, Redlands
Excellence Awardees:
Chloe Yates, Loreto College Coorparoo
Dane Ponting, Fraser Coast Anglican College
Grant Grierson, Marymount College
Matthew Pitman, Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs
Maynard Victor Erece, Clairvaux MacKillop College
Mitchell Mills, Saint Stephen’s College
Peter Tsambalas, Southern Cross Catholic College Burwood
CURRICULUM AWARDS
Best Co-Curricular Program
Winner: Yeronga SHS – Horizons Women’s Hub
Excellence Awardees:
Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Central Coast Grammar School
Clairvaux MacKillop College
Immanuel Primary School
Kolbe Catholic College
Loganlea State High School – Agribusiness Star Program
Scotch Oakburn College
Street Science Best STEM Program
Winner: Murrumbidgee Regional High School – Griffith
Excellence Awardees:
Brisbane South State Secondary College
Clairvaux MacKillop College
Kennedy College
Kolbe Catholic College
Marist Catholic College Penshurst
St Andrew’s Anglican College
Best Use of Technology
Winner: Larrakeyah Primary School
Excellence Awardees:
Canterbury College
Emmaus College
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
St Michael’s Grammar School
Trinity College (SA)
Westbourne Grammar
Xavier College South Australia
Innovation in Curriculum Design
Winner: Westbourne Grammar School
Excellence Awardees:
Aquinas College
Chevalier College
Kirwan State High School
Marsden State High School
Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC)
St Columba Anglican School
St Peter’s College
Innovation in Learning Environment Design
Winner: Joseph Banks Secondary College
Excellence Awardees:
Bentleigh Secondary College
Brisbane Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School
Haileybury Pangea
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
Strathcona Girls Grammar
Westbourne Grammar School
SCHOOL AWARDS
Best First Nations Education Program
Winner: Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Excellence Awardees:
Corpus Christi College Maroubra
Haileybury Rendall School
Marsden State High School
Woodridge State High School
Best Professional Learning Program
Winner: Trinity College (SA)
Excellence Awardees:
Australian International Islamic College
Presbyterian Ladies College (PLC Perth)
Ravenswood School For Girls
Redlands
St Augustine’s College
St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill
Westminster School
Best School Strategic Plan
Winner: Marsden State High School, High Quality Teaching Strategic Plan
Excellence Awardees:
Canterbury College
Central West Leadership Academy
Clayfield College
John Paul College
Sheldon College
St Joseph’s Primary, Alstonville
Westbourne Grammar School
Parentshop Best Student Wellbeing Program
Winner: Loganlea SHS
Excellence Awardees:
Carey Grammar School
Hume Anglican Grammar
Larrakeyah Primary School
Loreto College Marryatville
Ravenswood School For Girls
Redlands
Yeronga State High School
Australian Boarding Schools Association Boarding School of the Year
Winner: St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Excellence Awardees:
Clayfield College
Kincoppal – Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart
PLC Perth
Ravenswood School For Girls
SCOTS PGC College
The Rockhampton Grammar School
AFL Schools Primary School of the Year – Government
Winner: Labrador State School
Excellence Awardees:
Bandiana Primary School
Berry Public School
Galston Public School
Kingswood Primary School
Larrakeyah Primary School
Mount Victoria Public School
Primary School of the Year – Non-government
Winner: Haileybury
Excellence Awardees:
Central Coast Grammar School
Haileybury Rendall School
Sheldon College
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School
Strathcona Girls Grammar
Regional School of the Year
Winner: Maryborough State High School
Excellence Awardees:
Central West Leadership Academy
Haileybury Rendall School
James Fallon High School
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
St Andrew’s Anglican College
Trinity Anglican College
A Team Tuition Secondary School of the Year – Government
Winner: Hunter Sports High School
Excellence Awardees:
Ashdale Secondary College
Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Bentleigh Secondary College
Coombabah State High School
James Fallon High School
Maryborough State High School
Naracoorte High School
Campion Education Secondary School of the Year – Non-government
Winner: Southern Cross Catholic College
Excellence Awardees:
Canterbury College
Faith Lutheran College, Plainland
Haileybury
Siena College
St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls
St Laurence’s College
St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
Walford Anglican School for Girls
Special Education School of the Year
Winner: Warakirri College
Excellence Awardees:
Lucas Gardens School
Mancel College
St Luke’s Arrunga
Toogoolawa School
Warrah Specialist School
NATIONAL AWARDS
Wayground (formerly Quizizz) Australian School of the Year
This award recognises the most outstanding school in Australia.
Winner: Hunter Sports High School
Excellence Awardees:
Haileybury
Labrador State School
Southern Cross Catholic College
Warakirri College
Compass Australian School Principal of the Year
This award recognises the most outstanding school principal in Australia.
Winner: Dr. Adrian Camm, Westbourne Grammar School
Excellence Awardees:
Marcus Jones, Marsden State High School
Stephanie Kriewaldt, Lobethal Lutheran School
Steven Trotter, Ashby