After a fantastic round of nominations, The Educator is proud to announce the Excellence Awardees for the Australian Education Awards 2026.
The Australian Education Awards, now in their ninth year, recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the country’s top performing schools, principals, department heads and teachers.
Educational excellence in Australia’s schools will be recognised at a black-tie gala event being held at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney on Friday 7 August 2026. The Awards, spanning 29 categories, include Best Student Wellbeing Program, Education Rising Star of the Year, and Australian School of the Year, showcasing the best of what Australian education has to offer in 2026.
Without further ado, here are the Excellence Awardees for the Australian Education Awards 2026.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Department Head of the Year
Belinda Vlasenko, Trinity College Beenleigh
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
Danni Mattiazzo, Larrakeyah Primary School
David Matheson, Southern Cross Catholic College
Dr Bek Duyckers, Coomera Anglican College
Dr Robert Jacob, Casey Grammar School
Raihana Ferdous, Australian International Islamic College
Tameeka Schelks, Coombabah State High School
FACTS Education Rising Star of the Year
Alexandra Delaney, Guthridge
Ashleigh Jones, Salesian College Chadstone
Ava Sorgel, Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Bianca Tibos, James Fallon High School
Jade Bassett, Rutherford Technology High School
Joel Connolly, Townsville Grammar School
Ruby Harris, Westminster School
Taylor Linz, Riverbanks College B-12
Sponsored by
Primary School Principal of the Year – Government
Allan Ison, Galston Public School
Charlie Moncada, Wilsonton State School
Deborah Docherty, Jilliby Public School
Fathma Mauger, Larrakeyah Primary School
Hayden Beaton, Mooroopna Park Primary School
Martine Gill, Clover Hill State School
Matthew Bulger, Yarrilee State School
Matthew Carter, Grose View Public School
Primary School Principal of the Year – Non-government
Emma Fowler, St Raphael’s School
Renae Dunleavy, St Patrick’s School Lithgow
Primary School Teacher of the Year – Government
Aaron Mann, Warilla North
Cassie Walker, Holland Park State School
Emily Graham, Tagai State College, St Paul’s Campus
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
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
Shane Bell, Casey Grammar School
Susan Grover, Caulfield Grammar School
School Principal of the Year – Government
Chris Owen, Bremer State High School
Julie Learoyd, Hervey Bay State High School
Karen Tanks, Mansfield State High School
Kristie de Brenni, Queensland Pathways State College
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
School Principal of the Year – Non-government
Ashleigh Martin, Caulfield Grammar School
Daniel Crump, Stuartholme School
Deborah Netolicky, Walford Anglican School for Girls
Dr Nicole Archard, Loreto Kirribilli
Kate Mortimer, Sheldon College
Lisa Moloney, MLC School
Mary Farah, St Aloysius College
Secondary School Teacher of the Year – Government
Brittni Balogh, Joseph Banks Secondary College
Chelsea Schmidt, Central Yorke School
David Moran, Bellbird Park State Secondary College
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
Dr Steven Griffiths, Clayfield College
Dr. Maynard Victor Erece, Clairvaux MacKillop College
Duncan Berg, Haileybury
Genevieve Comino, Redlands
Lesley Kaye, PLC Perth
Matt Pitman, Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs
Paul Stockdale, Mentone Girls’ Grammar
Rachel Thompson, Marist Catholic College Penshurst
CURRICULUM AWARDS
Best Co-Curricular Program
Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Caningeraba State School
Kinross Wolaroi School
Lobethal Lutheran School
Marsden
Mentone Grammar
Sheldon College
Wesley College (WesleyNEXT program)
Street Science Best STEM Program
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
QASMT
Queenwood School
Sponsored by
Toddle Best Use of Technology
Emmanuel Catholic College
Haileybury
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
Marsden State High School
St Andrew’s Anglican College
St Michael’s Grammar School
Trinity College (SA)
Wesley College
Sponsored by
OneSchool Global Innovation in Curriculum Design
Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Broadbeach State School
Corinda SHS Inclusion Model
SCOTS PGC College
Westbourne Grammar School
Y Schools Queensland
Yeronga State High School
Sponsored by
Innovation in Learning Environment Design
Ballina Coast High School
Haileybury Pangea
Hillcrest Christian College – Virtual Learning Community
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
Marsden State High School
OneSchool Global – Mt Victoria Campus
The Knox School
Westbourne Grammar School
SCHOOL AWARDS
Woolworths at Work Best First Nations Education Program
Barker College
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
Sponsored by
Best Professional Learning Program
Haileybury
Marsden
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Methodist Ladies College, Claremont WA
Parramatta Marist High School
Sirius College
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Stuartholme School
PeopleBench Best School Strategic Plan
Arndell Anglican College
Bomaderry High School
Genazzano FCJ College – Best School Strategic Plan
Hillcrest Christian College
Kingswood College
MacKillop Education Waranara School
St Mary’s College
Walford Anglican School for Girls
Sponsored by
Best Student Wellbeing Program
Adelaide International School
Bellbird Park State Secondary College
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
Kincoppal Rose Bay
Ravenswood School for Girls
Rosevear Boarding – Scotch College
St Joseph’s College
Stuartholme School Boarding House
Torres Strait Kaziw Meta
Sponsored by
Primary School of the Year – Government
Broadbeach State School
Clover Hill State School
Kingswood Primary School
Larrakeyah Primary School
Mosman Park School for Deaf Children
The Entrance Public School
Wattle Grove Primary School
Windang Public School
Primary School of the Year – Non-government
Cornish College
Haileybury
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
Berri Regional Secondary College
Bishop Druitt college
Haileybury Rendall School
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
Hunter Sports High School
James Fallon High School
Joseph Banks Secondary College
Park Ridge State High School
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
Haileybury
Loreto Kirribilli
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
Ormiston College
Southern Cross Catholic College
St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar
St Michael’s Grammar School
Special Education School of the Year
Atwell College
Mancel College
Mosman Park School for Deaf Children
Toogoolawa School
Toormina High School
NATIONAL AWARDS
Campion Education Australian School of the Year
This award recognises the most outstanding school in Australia. The excellence awardees in this category will comprise the winners of the following categories:
– Primary School of the Year – Government
– Primary School of the Year – Non-Government
– Secondary School of the Year – Government
– Secondary School of the Year – Non-Government
– Special Education School of the Year
Sponsored by
Australian School Principal of the Year
This award recognises the most outstanding school principal in Australia. The excellence awardees in this category will comprise the winners of the following categories:
– Primary School Principal of the Year – Government
– Primary School Principal of the Year – Non-government
– School Principal of the Year – Government
– School Principal of the Year – Non-government