Nominations are now open for the Australian Government's National Awards for Quality Schooling 2008.

The awards are open to all teachers, principals, support staff members and schools at:

• pre-primary
• primary
• secondary levels.

The Australian Government is providing more than $1.1million in prize money for the 2008 awards.

About the awards

The awards recognise and reward those who, in their different ways, make an exceptional contribution to their school community and outcomes for students.

The awards build a better understanding and greater appreciation of the work done in Australian schools, and are a way of sharing good ideas and practice among school communities across the country.

Key dates

Nominations close 15 October 2007

Winners notified February 2008

Presentation ceremony March 2008

Award categories

In 2008 there will be 64 awards in seven categories and more than $1.1million in prizes.

Individual awards

• Excellence by a Teacher
  Major prize: $30,000; 15 prizes of $10,000
• Excellence by a Beginning Teacher
  Major prize: $20,000; 1 prize of $10,000
• Excellence in Teacher Leadership
  Major prize: $30,000; 5 prizes of $10,000
• Excellence by a Principal
  Major prize: $30,000; 7 prizes of $10,000
• Excellence by a Support Staff Member
  Major prize: $30,000; 7 prizes of $10,000

School awards

• Excellence in School Improvement
  Major prize: $50,000; 15 prizes of $15,000
• Excellence in Family–School Partnerships
  Major prize: $50,000; 7 prizes of $15,000

Awardees in the individual categories will receive an individual prize with additional funding of 50 per cent of the prize to the school.

Who will you nominate?

Nominations close 15 October 2007.

For further information, or to make a nomination, phone 1800 131 323 (freecall) or email awards@austcolled.com.au

Information about the awards, and nomination forms, are available on the Teaching Australia website.

Congratulations to the 2007 award winners

In March 2007, the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, presented 64 awards.

The 2007 best national achievement winners are:

• Excellence by a Teacher
  Danielle Radley, Miami State School, Qld
• Excellence by a Beginning Teacher
  Tanya Taylor-Cox, Thebarton Senior College, SA
• Excellence in Teacher Leadership
  Viviana Golding, Highton Primary School, Vic
• Excellence by a Principal
  Genia Janover, Bialik College, Vic
• Excellence by a Support Staff Member
  Kerryn de Jonge, Taroom State School, Qld
• Excellence in School Improvement
  Seaford 6–12 School, SA
• Excellence in Family–School Partnerships
  Holy Family Primary School, NSW