Celebrating the outstanding teachers inspiring Australia’s future generations

By Commonwealth Bank
Community contribution / September 13, 2023

Twenty-two exceptional educators from across Australia have been recognised for their incredible ingenuity and profound impact on their school communities at the 2023 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards.

Presented by Schools Plus and co-hosted by Education Minister Jason Clare at Parliament House in Canberra, the Awards ceremony saw 12 outstanding teachers receive a prestigious 12-month Teaching Fellowship, valued at $40,000.

Celebrating their transformational influence and unwavering commitment to their students’ learning, the Fellowship includes $25,000 for recipients to launch their own strategic school project and undergo a unique professional learning program.

Ten incredible teachers in their first five years of the profession have also been recognised with an Early Career Teaching Award, picking up an ECT Scholarship valued at $10,000.

Their prize includes $5,000 for their professional development and access to an exclusive learning and mentoring program, thanks to support from Salesforce.

Nathan Barker, Head of Community Investment Commonwealth Bank, said the Awards have a “decorated history” of recognising the true impact educators have on their students and school communities.

“This year’s teachers demonstrated incredible dedication towards developing the leaders of tomorrow and equipping them for future success. On behalf of Commonwealth Bank, I congratulate all the winners on their exceptional innovation and achievements,” Barker said.

While many 2022 recipients were recognised for their work in supporting students in the shift back to the classroom post COVID lockdowns, this year’s cohort are celebrated for their work in empowering students through personalised educational strategies, developing effective wellbeing programs, and setting them up to thrive amid a fast-changing technological environment.

United by their ingenuity, compassion and commitment to their students, and deep sense of equity, highlights from the 2023 winners include learning initiatives that translate real industry knowledge into the classroom, pioneering co-curricular and STEM programs, and new evidence-backed educational frameworks that have been rolled out across multiple institutions.

Rosemary Conn, Chief Executive Officer of Schools Plus, praised the 2023 winners.

“We are truly inspired by the outstanding efforts of our esteemed teaching award winners in 2023.

“…Their passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to educational excellence has set a new benchmark for our teaching community.

“These exceptional educators embody the spirit of innovation, empowerment, and nurturing that raises the bar in education. Together we celebrate their remarkable achievements as positive change makers shaping opportunities for children, young people, and society,” Conn said.

Selected from a shortlist of more than 500 remarkable Australian educators, this year’s Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards winners are:

Early Career Teachers:

• Abbey Tamsen, Marsden State High School, QLD

• Jessica Mumford, Laynhapuy Homelands School, NT

• Joshua Barden, Emmaville Central School, NSW

• Laura White, McClelland Secondary College, VIC

• Lauren Warschauer, Byford Secondary College, WA

• Madison Smith, Monterey Secondary College, VIC

• Matthew Millikin, Marist College Canberra, ACT

• Nadine Stapleton, South Hedland Primary School, WA

• Rosie Connelly, Playford Primary School, SA

• Seamus Kavanagh, Richmond High School, VIC