Ten Central Coast schools have been acknowledged for their outstanding achievements and contributions to public education at the 2024 Public Education Awards.
The recent awards at Sydney Town Hall celebrated 132 outstanding individual achievements, breakthrough school initiatives, community partnerships and major contributions to school communities.
An eight-school collaboration won a Secretary’s Award for an Outstanding School Initiative for The Country’s Alive – Connecting to Country Song Writing.
Central Mangrove Public School, Jilliby Public School, Kariong Mountains High School, Kulnura Public School, Peats Ridge Public School, Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre, Somersby Public School and Wyong Creek Public School collaborated with the local Aboriginal community including Tim Selwyn, Jonathan Wright and Gavi Duncan to write the song.
The song was a great success and was endorsed by Cooinda local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG).
Sportswoman and Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College – The Entrance Campus student, Makala Kricak, won a Minister’s Award for Excellence in Student Achievement for consistently achieving excellence.
Makala not only plays elite water polo and achieves outstanding academic results as Dux of her cohort, she also finds time to give back to her school and community through coaching, officiating, refereeing, mentoring, or helping others.
Brisbane Water Secondary College – Umina Campus teacher Dominique McMahon also received an honourable mention for her commitment to public education through her intelligent provocations and her selfless dedication to her students, colleagues, and community, taking home a Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
The event was the first time the awards, formerly the NSW Minister’s and Secretary’s Awards for Excellence, have been held during Public Education Week, a week that celebrates and acknowledges all who contribute to our children and young people’s educational journey.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said she was excited to celebrate the many extraordinary initiatives, achievements and people in a week themed ‘Proud to belong’.
“The Public Education Awards are an important opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the amazing work of our teachers, school communities and other staff who each day work together to bring out the best in our students,” Car said.
“This annual celebration also recognises the academic, cultural, sporting and leadership excellence of our students, as we share in their personal stories and performances.”
The winners from across NSW were selected in the following categories: Minister’s Award for Excellence in Student Achievement; Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching; Secretary’s Award for Excellent Service; Secretary’s Award for an Outstanding School Initiative; Secretary’s Award for School Achievement; Secretary’s Award for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging; Secretary’s Award for Living Our Values and Public School Parent of the Year Award.
Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said the awards were an annual highlight and he was thrilled to see the introduction of the new Living Our Values award which was centred on the department’s values of accountability, equity, excellence, integrity, service, and trust.
As a former student, teacher and principal and now parent in the public system, Dizdar said he was enormously proud of public education in NSW.
“Through these awards we honour the best of the best in our system and showcase the incredible work of our schools, support staff and parents in giving our students an incredible platform on which to soar.”