Prizes for Australian science teachers

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science – Science Teaching Prizes award teachers with prizes for excellence in teaching in any area of science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). 

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious awards for achievements in:

• scientific research and research-based innovation
• the practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems
• excellence in science teaching.

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science expects to award approximately $1.4 million each year (2027, 2028 and 2029), noting the total funding awarded in any year may vary if more than one recipient is awarded a prize, for achievements across 3 prize categories: categories:

• the Science Prizes
• the Science Teaching Prizes
• the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems Prize.

Information on the other prizes can be found on the Science and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems pages.

We particularly encourage the nomination of candidates from diverse backgrounds and of all gender identities.

There are 2 science teaching prizes:

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools ($250,000)
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools ($250,000)

Each prize recipient receives a medallion, lapel pin, prize money as described above and an award certificate. The Minister may approve more than one recipient for each Science Teaching Prize, subject to the availability of grant funds. We may recognise highly ranked nominees through the awarding of highly commended certificates.

To be eligible for a Science Teaching Prize, nominees must:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia
• have undertaken their teaching achievement for which they are nominated in Australia
• not be self-nominated
• not be nominated in more than one prize category for more than one prize per year across the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. Where a nominee is nominated in more than one prize, we will ask the nominee to select a single nomination to pursue at Stage 1
• be a full-time or part-time registered teacher at a primary or secondary school listed on the Australian Schools List
• be active in teaching science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) in the classroom at the time of their nomination. Teachers on parental leave at the time of nomination, who intend to return to teaching, are eligible.
• have the support of Principal or Head of School at the current school of achievement. If the nominee is at the level of Principal, they must have the support of a member of the school leadership team (such as a Deputy Principal) or counterparts in a Department of Education or non-government school authority (such as a head of learning from the education administration area to which the school belongs)
• have at least 10 years’ experience as a classroom teacher in Australia.

Nominees do not need to be a member of a professional association or have received any prior award to be eligible.

Previous nominees are eligible for renomination. A new nomination must be submitted by a nominator via the online nomination form.

Find out more about the nomination process at Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science – Science Teaching Prizes.