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 and highly regarded awards for demonstrated achievements in:

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

The prizes will award up to $1.4 million in total each year for achievements across 3 prize categories. The Science Teaching Prizes recognise Australian science teachers for excellence in science teaching. 

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

We welcome nominations of diverse candidates and those from a range of backgrounds and geographical regions.

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. We may recognise highly ranked nominees through the awarding of highly commended certificates.

To be eligible for a Science Teaching Prize, a nominee 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. Where a nominee is nominated in more than one category, we will ask the nominee to select a single nomination to pursue. This will occur 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 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.

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

A prize nomination must be proposed by someone (a nominator) with knowledge of the nominee’s achievements and endorsed by two supporters. Nominators and supporters must not be close family members (see glossary) and a nominator cannot be a supporter for the same nomination. To be eligible to submit or support a nomination for a Science Teaching Prize, either the nominator or one of the supporters must be the Principal or Head of School at the current school of achievement.

Prior to submitting a nomination you should read and understand the Science Teaching Prizes guidelines.

You should also ensure the nominee is willing to be nominated, will provide the evidence necessary to support the nomination, and understands the obligations that come with the prize.

The nomination process involves two stages.

Stage 1: the nominator provides a summary of the nominee’s achievement against the assessment criteria for the prize.

To prepare a Stage 1 nomination:

• Make sure your nominee is willing to be nominated.
• Ask them for a copy of their CV that uses the provided template (2 page maximum).
• Complete the online Stage 1 nomination form.
• Provide a 4,500 character written statement addressing the assessment criteria within the online form.
• Identify two supporters.

Stage 2: If a nominee has been shortlisted we invite the nominator and two supporters to prepare a more detailed submission addressing the relevant assessment criteria.

To prepare a stage 2 nomination, once invited:

• Complete the online Stage 2 nomination form.
• Respond to each assessment criteria within the online form using no more than 9,000 characters total (3,000 characters per criterion).
• Provide two supporter statements on the provided template and up to 6,000 characters each.
• Provide a video (up to 3 minutes in length) showcasing the nominee in their teaching environment.
• Provide all necessary attachments, and any additional evidence and attachments to support Assessment Criteria 2, as outlined in section 6.3.2 of the guidelines.

When you're ready to apply

When the online form is available you'll need to apply using our online portal:

1. Create or log into your portal account.
2. Follow the instructions to complete the nomination.
3. Submit the nomination application before the close date.

Make sure you include enough detail and supporting evidence in the nomination to help us decide whether the nomination should progress to Stage 2 and ultimately, award the nominee the prize.

Don’t submit the application until it’s complete. You can’t correct a mistake.

The Prime Minister's Prizes for Science is part of the Inspiring Australia – Science Engagement Program. This aims to:

• increase Australian community engagement with the sciences, through activities and events
• increase positive public sentiment and awareness of the contribution and achievements of Australian scientists and innovators
• improve communication between Australian scientists, the general public, businesses and government
• enhance focus on building skills and capability in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and digital literacy, in Australian schools and communities
• increase engagement and participation in groups under-represented in STEM.