Outstanding Queensland teachers celebrated with 2025 TEACHX Awards

From remote island and outback classrooms to metropolitan science and computer labs, another 31 outstanding educators from across Queensland have been recognised with TEACHX Awards.

The Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) annual awards highlight teachers’ achievements and impacts across all school sectors and at every career stage.

The 2025 winners’ accomplishments reflect the range of work teachers often take on outside their face-to-face teaching, dedicating time to coordinate extra-curricular activities, advance learning through innovative and creative curriculum development, and lead academic, sports or cultural programs.

Quick facts about this year’s winners

• Locations of winners: 19 winners work in metropolitan schools in south east Queensland and 12 are from regional education settings across the state – including remote Warraber Island, northern Daintree and Townsville communities, and towns across the Sunshine Coast and central and western Queensland.
• School sectors represented: 17 winners work in State schools, 7 in Catholic schools, and 5 in Independent schools, as well as one winner from a kindergarten centre and one from a university.
• Years of experience: This year’s winners have more than two centuries’ collective teaching experience between them, with Outstanding Contribution to Teaching winners having more than 115 years between them alone.
• Judging: In 2025 the QCT received 324 TEACHX nominations, shortlisted 78, then selected the 31 winners.

Comments from QCT Board Chair, Emeritus Professor Wendy Patton

“The TEACHX Awards help us recognise and realise the extraordinary ripple effect teachers have on their communities,” Emeritus Professor Patton said.

“The 2025 winners’ accomplishments remind us that great teaching comes in many forms – from introducing new pathways into STEM, to revitalising First Nations languages, to building community resilience in the face of natural disasters, their stories reflect the commitment and creativity of Queensland teachers.

“They’ve dedicated their lives to helping young people thrive and we’re proud to bring attention to their work.”

What makes TEACHX unique

Since its inception as the Excellence in Teaching Awards in 2009, more than 150 teachers have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to the profession.

Registered teachers from all sector schools (Catholic, Independent and State), as well as early childhood and university settings from across Queensland, are eligible for nomination by their colleagues.

In recent years, the awards format has shifted to honour multiple winners per category – and introduced a new award for registered teachers in initial teacher education – in recognition of the wide spectrum of educators in the community.

The 31 winners will receive their trophies at the 2025 TEACHX Awards ceremony in Brisbane on Friday 31 October 2025, coinciding with World Teachers’ Day in Queensland.

The TEACHX Awards are proudly sponsored by Principal Partners: the Queensland Department of Education and Presenting Partners: Teachers Health.

2025 TEACHX Awards categories and winners

Read more about the winners and their accomplishments here.

Excellence in Teacher Education

Rickie Fisher, Central Queensland University
Pioneered Queensland’s first fully online postgraduate teacher education program, expanding access for aspiring teachers in regional and remote communities.

Excellence in Beginning to Teach

Rueben Davis, Loganlea State High School
Led cultural programs including a bush tucker garden and Reconciliation Action Plan, boosting attendance and pride among First Nations students.

Campbell Evans, Winton State School
Improved literacy by 15 per cent in one term while balancing teaching, leadership, and strong community engagement.

Genevieve Rossi, Stuartholme School
Lifted maths outcomes above national benchmarks and created STEM opportunities that took students to the Kennedy Space Centre.

Callum Simmons, Ripley Valley State Secondary College
Turned esports into a full subject to boost engagement, while mentoring colleagues in AI and digital practice.

Brittany Watts, Yarrabilba State Secondary College
Boosted maths results dramatically by introducing an Advanced Mathematics program and providing inclusive lunchtime tutorials.

Excellence in Teaching

Mark Avery, St Ursula’s College Yeppoon
Redeveloped the school library into a dynamic hub and championed reconciliation through curriculum and publications.

Chantelle Flint, All Saints Anglican School
Built a thriving drama program where students achieve top results and perform in large community musicals.

Georgia Horewood, Pimlico State High School
Encouraged students to be global citizens and present at the UN COP28 Climate Change Conference.

David Moran, Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Introduced the Yagara language into curriculum, the first such program in a Queensland secondary school.

Caroline Taran, Mt St Michael’s College
Enriched science learning through real-world projects and national contributions to evidence-based teaching.

Innovation in Teaching

Rebecca Bowen, C&K Oaks Beach Community Kindergarten
Reconnected pandemic-born children with curiosity through outdoor learning and slow pedagogy.

Kerry Daud, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
Founded the Girls in Gaming competition and led statewide collaboration in emerging technologies.

Narelle Morris, St John Fisher College
Delivered statewide teacher mentoring and Specialist Mathematics online to rural students with outstanding results.

Nataleen Nixon, St Laurence’s College
Built a sustainable urban farm in Brisbane’s CBD, blending environmental science and real-world learning.

Christopher Wickens, Shailer Park State High School
Created a Design Skill Tree and makerspace to personalise learning and foster creativity.

Excellent Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Alfio Balsamo, Woodcrest State College
Expanded the WesTEC trade centre supporting 900 students with nationally recognised vocational programs.

Raihana Ferdous, Australian International Islamic College
Renewed curriculum and boosted female participation in sport and STEM by over 30 per cent.

Deborah Lonsdale-Walker, Stuartholme School
Strengthened wellbeing and workforce sustainability, making Stuartholme a nationally recognised employer of choice.

Thomas McKenna, St George State High School
Created agricultural partnerships and camps that give rural students career pathways.

Natalie Van Zyl, Tagai State College – Warraber Island Campus
Embedded cultural knowledge and built strong family connections, achieving outstanding student engagement.

Outstanding Contribution to School Community

Renee Dennien, Coolum State High School
Directed the Surf Academy and regional sports programs, fostering wellbeing and opportunities for students.

Jane Morris, Stuartholme School
Boosted First Nations enrolments by 275 per cent while supporting boarders to achieve exceptional Year 12 results.

Jacqui Osborne, Daintree State School
Led her community through floods by transforming the school into a recovery hub.

Nicole Pritchard, Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Tripled QTAC applications by creating pathways for refugee and disadvantaged students.

Andrew Willis, Yeppoon State High School
Inspired students for 33 years while building partnerships, including a community library project.

Outstanding Contribution to Teaching

Elizabeth Cameron, Holland Park State High School
Sustained a 100 per cent QCE attainment rate while creating vocational pathways for students.

Rowena Chapman, Ormiston College
Introduced AI and holograms into classrooms, and mentors colleagues statewide in science education.

Samantha Ephraims, Kalkie State School
Led STEM programs connecting students to global competitions and real-world applications.

Venugopal Srikanth Sogathur, Ripley Valley State Secondary College
Expanded DigiTech and esports programs reaching over 1,000 students across Queensland.

Louise Symonds, Townsville Grammar Junior
Built a nationally recognised French program while mentoring teachers and coaching sports teams.