The Minister for School Education Peter Garrett has announced the opening of nominations for the 2012 Australian Awards for Outstanding Teaching and School Leadership, recognising the top performing teachers and school leaders across the country.

 

Nominations for the 2012 Australian Awards for Outstanding Teaching and School Leadership will be sought from peak education authorities in each state and territory for the following categories:

  • Australian Primary Teacher of the Year
  • Australian Secondary Teacher of the Year
  • Australian Primary Principal of the Year
  • Australian Secondary Principal of the Year
  • Australian Early Childhood Teacher of the Year
  • Australian Government Minister’s Award for Excellence 

 

As in 2011, this year’s Minister’s Award for Excellence will be awarded to a teacher or school leader who shows innovation and initiative in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.

 

Minister Garrett also launched new initiatives developed by AITSL to support quality teaching, including the National Professional Standards for Teachers website, and a ‘Teacher Feature’ platform, which allows teachers to upload video snapshots of themselves talking about their practice.

 

AITSL is also developing a performance and development framework to be introduced in schools from 2013 and aligned with the Gillard Government’s Rewards for Great Teachers program.

 

For more information on the Australian Awards for Outstanding Teaching and School Leadership visit www.aitsl.edu.au.

 

Details of Government initiatives to boost teacher quality are available at www.deewr.gov.au/schooling.