Published 27 Aug 2026
Victorian independent teachers recognised among Australia's best
Victorian teachers, school leaders and schools have been recognised at the 2026 Australian Education Awards, celebrating the outstanding work being done to support children and young people across the state.
Presented by The Educator, the awards honour excellence, innovation and leadership in K–12 education. This year's Victorian winners were recognised for their significant contribution to student learning, wellbeing and school communities.
Congratulations to all winners and finalists on this well-deserved national recognition.
Primary School Principal of the Year - Non-government
Emma Fowler
St Raphael's Primary School
Primary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government
Shane Bell
Casey Grammar School
Secondary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government
Duncan Berg
Haileybury
Toddle Best Use of Technology
St Michael's Grammar School
Primary School of the Year – Non-Government
Haileybury
Campion Education Australian School of the Year
Haileybury
2026 Excellence Awardees
Deputy Principal of the Year
Dr Robert Jacob, Casey Grammar School (Victoria)
FACTS Education Rising Star of the Year
Alexandra Delaney, Guthridge Campus, Sale College (Sale, Victoria)
Ashleigh Jones, Salesian College Chadstone (Chadstone, Victoria)
Essential Assessment Primary School Principal of the Year – Government
Hayden Beaton, Mooroopna Park Primary School (Mooroopna, Victoria)
Primary School Teacher of the Year – Government
Leanne Taylor, Kingswood Primary School (Dingley Village, Victoria)
Primary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government
Susan Grover, Caulfield Grammar School (Melbourne, Victoria)
School Principal of the Year – Non-Government
Ashleigh Martin, Caulfield Grammar School (Melbourne, Victoria)
Secondary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government
Matt Pitman, Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs (Victoria)
Paul Stockdale, Mentone Girls' Grammar (Mentone, Victoria)
Best Co-Curricular Program
Mentone Grammar (Mentone, Victoria)
Wesley College, WesleyNEXT Program (Melbourne, Victoria)
Toddle Best Use of Technology
Haileybury (Melbourne, Victoria)
Wesley College (Melbourne, Victoria)
OneSchool Global Innovation in Curriculum Design
Westbourne Grammar School (Truganina, Victoria)
Innovation in Learning Environment Design
Haileybury Pangea (Victoria's first private online school)
The Knox School (Wantirna South, Victoria)
Westbourne Grammar School (Truganina, Victoria)
Best First Nations Education Program
Loreto College Ballarat (Ballarat, Victoria)
Kingswood College Best Professional Learning Program
Haileybury (Melbourne, Victoria)
Sirius College (Victoria)
PeopleBench Best School Strategic Plan
Genazzano FCJ College (Kew, Victoria)
Kingswood College (Box Hill, Victoria)
Australian Boarding Schools Association Boarding School of the Year
Scotch College (Hawthorn, Victoria)
Woolworths at Work Primary School of the Year – Government
Kingswood Primary School (Dingley Village, Victoria)
Primary School of the Year – Non-Government
Cornish College (Bangholme, Victoria)
A Team Tuition Secondary School of the Year – Government
The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (Melbourne, Victoria)
Secondary School of the Year – Non-Government
Haileybury (Melbourne, Victoria)
Melbourne Girls Grammar (South Yarra, Victoria)
St Margaret's Berwick Grammar (Berwick, Victoria)
St Michael's Grammar School (St Kilda, Victoria)