Teaching awards nominations now open

Australasia’s longest running teaching awards the National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA) is encouraging parents, and all school community members to nominate educators who have displayed dedication, passion and creativity in the past year.

Winners are up for professional development grants of $5000 to $10,000.

Recent research commissioned by Futurity Investment Group who sponsor the awards found 64 per cent of parents believe teachers are not sufficiently recognised. The lack of recognition is one reason many young teachers leave the profession.

Fellow educators also have the chance to recognise an outstanding colleague. Teaching is a collegiate profession, with sharing of practice a key part of professional development. In 2021, NEiTA introduces Teacher Mentor Awards for educators who have made a difference in the professional life of a peer.

This year, NEiTA is recognising the role early childhood, primary and secondary teachers and principals have played in children’s lives throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

“Education changes lives but the best teachers truly transform futures. With the challenges triggered by COVID-19, the best teachers adapted their practice for remote learning, finding new ways to engage and enthuse students,” Futurity CEO, Ross Higgins said.

“There are thousands of talented, committed and caring teachers in classrooms all over Australia who are unsung heroes. They deserve to be recognised,” Higgins said.

The National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA) started in 1994 in Australia and 1996 in New Zealand. Since inception, nearly 40,000 teachers have been nominated. More than 1100 teachers have received over $1,200,000 in professional development grants and prizes.

Awards sponsor Futurity is a member owned and mutually structured financial institution, it currently manages and invests over $1 billion in education savings and investments for over 75,000 members.

Nominations can be made until August at www.neita.com