Congratulations to all the Highly Commended teacher aides in this year's Australian Teacher Aide of the Year Awards, for making an outstanding contribution to student learning and wellbeing at your school. 

Pop over to our Videos and Photos page to view some of our finalists and highly commended recipients receiving their award certificates at school.

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Highly Commended

Adam Belin

University of Canberra High School, ACT

Nominated by: Carol Ellis & Jenelle Reynolds, Executive Teachers 

 

Adam has been highly commended for his outstanding professionalism, and dedication to students and their achievements in learning. As a result, students have become more engaged at school, and demonstrated significant academic progress.

Highly Commended

Sharon Stevens

Caroline Chisholm School, ACT

Nominated by: Danielle van Kemenade, Learning Support Unit Teacher

 

Sharon has been highly commended for her contribution to improved student outcomes in literacy and numeracy, and for working collaboratively with teachers to advocate for the inclusion of students into mainstream classes.

Highly Commended

Katie Johnston

Yawarra Community School, NSW

Nominated by: Caja O'Brien, Classroom Teacher

 

Katie has been highly commended for her passion to create change for the students she supports, many of whom have complex disabilities such as Autism, physical disabilities and relational trauma.

Highly Commended

Michelle Hobden

Gunnedah High School, NSW

Nominated by: Beck Henderson, Head Teacher Wellbeing

 

Michelle has been highly commended for her commitment to seeing students grow and succeed. She supports the classroom teacher to develop differentiated, meaningful, and structured activities to develop students’ social and emotional needs.

Highly Commended

Tristan Roberts

James Busby High School, NSW

Nominated by: Rimonda Prasad, Head Teacher Special Education

 

Tristan has been highly commended for his positive impact on the learning and welfare of students with complex behaviour and sensory needs. His dedication over 17 years has ensured that students with disabilities experience inclusion and achieve learning goals.

Highly Commended

Leanne McLean

Jabiru Area School, NT

Nominated by: Nida Staines & Madison Gadd, Classroom Teachers

 

Leanne has been highly commended for her outstanding ability to support and nurture student wellbeing and student learning. Leanne supports students with high individual needs, and has been personally responsible for assisting students reach their learning goals.

Highly Commended

Amanda Ham-Zammit

Wooree State High School, QLD

Nominated by: Helen Tenison-Woods, Head of English Department

 

Amanda has been highly commended for her work in the English Faculty, where she has contributed to a rise in QCE attainment from 85% to 97%, over 6 years. She builds trust, and assists students understand and work through assessment tasks, to successful submission.

Highly Commended

Esmay Millers

Drayton State School, QLD

Nominated by: Stephanie Costello, Head of Student Support Services

 

Esmay has been highly commended for working collaboratively with the Speech Language Pathologist to lead the Speech and Language Support Program. As a result, many students have successfully progressed through their programs, and some have not required further intervention.

Highly Commended

John Hoisser

Bray Park State School, QLD

Nominated by: Leigh-Anne Moritz, Teacher Librarian

 

John has been highly commended for making mathematics exciting, by planning extended challenges that show the students how their knowledge can be used in wider contexts. He has worked with school leaders to proof diagnostic tools and assessments for all year levels.

Highly Commended

Leonie Langton

Gympie West State School, QLD

Nominated by: Lizette Phillips, Head of Curriculum

 

Leonie has been highly commended for setting up the Enviro Club to foster environmental sustainability, and for her passion for recycling and caring for our Earth. The learning that occurs is real life, purposeful and supports students to become active and aware global citizens.

Highly Commended

Michelle Darker

Ayr State School, QLD

Nominated by: Nikki Schell, Principal

 

Michelle has been highly commended for prioritising student wellbeing, and upholding high expectations for academics and behaviour for all students, including students with disability, and Indigenous students who speak English as a second language or dialect.

Highly Commended

Nicolette Cannard

Sandgate District State High School, QLD

Nominated by: Leonie Turnbull, Head of Special Education Services

 

Nicolette has been highly commended for overcoming her own disability of Stargarts to inspire the young people she works with in the Special Education Program. She works collaboratively across the school supporting teachers to engage students in learning.

Highly Commended

Rachel Sullivan

Coolnwynpin State School, QLD

Nominated by: Penelope Stewart, Head of Inclusion

 

Rachel has been highly commended for her outstanding collaboration with colleagues by planning and delivering professional development in the use of assistive technology. Rachel has also created a virtual library, where all staff can access adjusted curriculum materials.

Highly Commended

Robyn Ball

Pacific Paradise State School, QLD

Nominated by: Margie Burrell, Principal

 

Robyn has been highly commended for working collaboratively with the teacher to manage an inclusive learning environment. She engages high needs students to achieve, and creates a space for diverse learners to feel safe, valued and experience success.

Highly Commended

Sandra Hobbs

Inglewood State School, QLD

Nominated by: Shona Clark-Dickson, Prep Teacher & Primary PLC Leader

 

Sandra has been highly commended for making a positive impact on early childhood education for 29 years. She is known as the phonics queen and literacy support guru, and for throwing the learning rope out further than the children can reach so that they are always striving.

Highly Commended

Shannon Mattock

Southport State High School, QLD

Nominated by: Rachel Cureton, Head of Department - Professional Learning

 

Shannon has been highly commended for leading the management of online courses to support teaching staff deliver curriculum. She also has a pivotal role in the school’s academic mentoring program, instilling a growth mindset and productive learning behaviours in students.

Highly Commended

Trenae Jia

Helensvale State High School, QLD

Nominated by: Suzanne Bailey, Head of Department Teaching and Learning

 

Trenae has been highly commended for her work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. She has inspired and motivated students to attend school, resulting in increased achievement of grades, and a 100% turn-a-round in recorded behaviour incidences.

Highly Commended

Corinne Allen

Mole Creek Primary School, TAS

Nominated by: Nathan Rockcliff, Principal

 

Corinne has been highly commended for her participation in professional learning that has a direct impact on her ability to support students and teachers. Notably, her creation of social stories and task boards have assisted students with disability learn classroom routines. 

Highly Commended

Elizabeth Eustace

Ulverstone Secondary College, TAS

Nominated by: Sally Haynes, Health and Physical Education Teacher

 

Elizabeth has been highly commended for capacity to create and deliver rewarding learning experiences. Liz is particularly effective engaging students in community activities and guiding them towards quality life-skills, establishing confidence and success for post-secondary school life.

Highly Commended

Anna Cardamone

Clayton South Primary School, VIC

Nominated by: Greg Clement, Principal

 

Anna has been highly commended for her initiative in creating ‘The Butterfly Room’, an intervention space for junior school students who are struggling with the curriculum, to grow their wings. As a result, Anna has contributed to the significant growth of junior students this year.

Highly Commended

Gretta O’Mahoney

Sunshine Christian School, VIC

Nominated by: Damian Pietsch, Principal

 

Gretta has been highly commended for her leadership skills. She provides support to the principal in matters relating to the wellbeing of support staff, and provides ongoing assistance to enhance their professional life, as she walks alongside them in their learning pathways.

Highly Commended

Jude Fry

Fitzroy North Primary School, VIC

Nominated by: Dianna Bazzano, Teacher

 

Jude has been highly commended for her collaboration with teachers, leadership and parents, to improve the learning outcomes for students. She recognises student voice by getting to know students on a personal level, and fosters engagement in learning by highlighting their interests and passions.

Highly Commended

Juliane Matthews

Wantirna South Primary School, VIC

Nominated by: Kerri Emonson, Principal

 

Juliane has been highly commended for her commitment to enabling all children to find their voice, and achieve success. She has contributed to initiatives such as the teaching of Key Sign and the Bridges Literacy program, resulting in 95% of students achieving positive results.

Highly Commended

Kelly Ayton

Mooroolbark College, VIC

Nominated by: Ann Stratford, Principal

 

Kelly has been highly commended for her leadership of students with disability. She has embraced technology to document the progress of funded students, and ensured that other teacher aides working with the students have relevant and timely information to support them.

Highly Commended

Kylie Carr

Rokewood Primary School, VIC

Nominated by: Melanie Hilliard, Classroom Teacher

 

Kylie has been highly commended for her commitment to continuous improvement, and building her knowledge and understanding of how to support student learning. She shares her professional learning with staff, and implements what she has learned into her daily interactions with students.

Highly Commended

Loraine Woolan

Rosedale Primary School, VIC

Nominated by: Fiona Knight, Principal

 

Loraine has been highly commended for her literacy support and intervention to Foundation students. As a result, 90% or more of students know all letter names and sounds, can blend letters effectively, and have a sight vocabulary of at least 20 common words by the end of their Foundation year. 

Highly Commended

Natasha Cotter

Aitken Creek Primary School, VIC

Nominated by: Cassandra Keath, Classroom Teacher

 

Natasha has been highly commended for her outstanding ability to support students with literacy, numeracy and social interventions. Natasha works collaboratively with teachers to implement interventions, and as a result, students are more confident and engaged.

Highly Commended

Susan Hamilton

Oxley Christian College, VIC

Nominated by: Sharon Sandison, Head of Learning Enhancement

 

Susan has been highly commended for her outstanding support to students with disability and learning difficulties, for the past twenty-one years. With Susan’s support and encouragement, some students have gone on to achieve their VCE and successful further study and careers.

Highly Commended

Annette Bolton

St Helena’s Catholic Primary School, Ellenbrook WA

Nominated by: Kyrya Quayle, Students with Disabilities Coordinator

 

Annette has been highly commended for knowledge of disabilities and disorders, to accommodate the changing needs of the students. She is considered a leading expert by the school, and has learned to read and write in Braille, and learned Key Sign, Auslan, and Compic.

Highly Commended

Belinda Henderson

Mary’s Mount Primary School, WA

Nominated by: Loretta Hackner, Assistant Principal

 

Belinda has been highly commended for her passion and commitment to sustainability and environmental awareness. She set up the school’s recycling hub, initiated ‘Waste Free Wednesday’, and promoted parent engagement and support of specific programs including the school’s garden and market days.