2025 TEACHX Awards nomination categories

The Dr Roger Hunter OAM Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award recognises inspirational teachers with up to four years' experience who have an outstanding ability to teach and connect with their students and have made an exceptional contribution so far as a beginning teacher.

Selection criteria:

• Outstanding qualities as a beginning teacher
• Positive influence on student learning, wellbeing, or engagement
• Exceptional dedication to professional growth
• Exemplary teaching experience so far

The Dr Alan Druery OAM Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching recognises inspirational Queensland teachers making outstanding contributions to their students' learning and in their school communities, as well as empowering colleagues. This category broadly recognises the many facets of teachers' exceptional work in and out of the classroom.

Selection criteria:

• Contributions as a classroom teacher
• Meaningful impact of projects, programmes, and initiatives
• Significant contributions beyond the classroom
• Exemplary member of the teaching profession

The Dr John Dwyer Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning Award recognises classroom teachers or school administrators who have taken a leading role in enhancing teaching and learning in their school and have an exceptional ability to empower staff and colleagues, while positively impacting their school community.

Selection criteria:

• Outstanding contributions to teaching in a leadership capacity
• Measurable outcomes to school or profession
• Influence in the education sector
• Exemplary member of the teaching profession

The Merline Muldoon Memorial Award for Innovation in Teaching recognises registered teachers who use innovative tools, techniques, or practices to create solutions that have an outstanding impact on student learning.

Selection criteria:

• Implemented innovative strategies to enhance student learning
• Measurable examples of innovative practices
• Willingness to improve education
• Influenced innovative practices beyond the classroom

The Dr Joe McCorley OAM Outstanding Contribution to School Community Award recognises registered teachers who make profoundly positive impacts in their school communities and on student wellbeing.

Selection criteria:

• Meaningful impact beyond the classroom
• Leads or contributes to initiatives or partnerships to benefit the school community
• Fosters strong relationships to enhance student wellbeing
• Exemplary member of the profession and school community

The Professor Betty Watts OBE Memorial Award for an Outstanding Contribution to Teaching recognises experienced Queensland registered teachers and school leaders with outstanding histories of service (with at least 15 years’ experience), whose practice and knowledge will have resulted in an outstanding impact on their school and a significant contribution to the teaching profession.

Selection criteria:

• Impact on school community or teaching profession
• Contribution to growth and development of colleagues
• Influence in the education sector
• Outstanding member of the teaching profession

The Emeritus Professor Nola Alloway Excellence in Teacher Education Award recognises registered Queensland teachers working in tertiary education settings (Higher Education Institutions) who have made an outstanding contribution to educating preservice teachers and had a positive impact on initial teacher education (ITE).

Selection criteria:

• Demonstration of outstanding contributions to ITE
• Positively influenced preservice teachers
• Contribution to ITE innovation or research
• Exemplary member of the profession in the ITE space