Top NSW educators honoured with Premier's Teacher Scholarship

NSW Premier Chris Minns has congratulated 15 of the state’s best teachers whose commitment to quality education has been rewarded with a 2026 Premier’s Teacher Scholarship. 

In announcing the winners at Parliament House, Premier Minns said it was an honour to celebrate of one of this state’s most valuable resources - our teachers.

“These scholarships are designed to enrich the learning experiences of students in the classroom, and to support teachers to explore their focus areas,” Mr Minns said.

“From their study tour experiences, scholars will gain confidence to apply new ideas, new teaching methods and new technologies in their teaching.

“In a time of rapid social, economic and technological change, this professional focus is exactly what is required of teachers as they prepare students for their future as innovators and achievers.”

Acting Education and Early Learning Minister Courtney Houssos said the scholarship program was designed to make the best teachers in the state even better.

“Since they started in 1999, more than 570 Premier’s Teacher Scholarship recipients have received fantastic opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge in a chosen field of expertise,” she said.

“When our teachers return from their study tours, I am sure their students will benefit from the knowledge they’ve gained, and this will enhance their learning experiences in the classroom.”

The scholarship program was open to NSW teachers from government and non-government schools and preschools, and to teachers at TAFE NSW Institutes.

It provides each recipient with $15,000 in funds for a five-week study tour during 2026.

The scholarships have a strong regional focus, with six of the award winners from outside of Sydney.

The Premier’s Teacher Scholarship recipients were presented at a reception at Parliament House last night.

Further information on each scholarship can be found at https://education.nsw.gov.au/teach-nsw/enhance-your-career/nsw-premier-s-teacher-scholarships

Sponsoring organisations who have helped to make the award possible include: Western Sydney University, the University of Sydney, the University of New England, Teachers Mutual Bank, Reserve Bank of Australia, NSW Education Standards Authority, History Teachers Association NSW, Hicksons Lawyers, Economics and Business Educators NSW, Early Childhood Australia NSW, and the Anika Foundation.

The list of winners are:

Premier’s Youth Depression Awareness Scholarship

• Betty Tian Yi Li (Macarthur Girls High School) - “Neuroaffirmative practices and suicide prevention in autistic teenage girls”
• Emma Nile (Campbell House School) - “Integrating therapeutic and justice-informed early interventions in EDBD school settings”

Premier’s Creativity Across the Curriculum Scholarship

• John Dennison (Barker College) - "Future Craft: How hands-on making can realign design technology education from digital overload"

Premier’s Early Childhood Education Scholarship

• Deborah Bennetts (John Brotchie Nursery School) - “Teaching literacy and numeracy in the early years without ‘schoolification’”

Premier’s Economics and Business Educators NSW Commerce Scholarship

• Rachel Noonan (San Clemente Catholic College, Mayfield) - "Creating Future-Focused Learners: Innovative approaches to teaching the new commerce syllabus"

Premier’s Rural and Remote Education Scholarship

• Joshua Crispin (Menindee Central School) - “Using instructional playbooks to lead explicit teaching in hard-to-staff rural and remote schools”

Premier’s History Teachers’ Association History Scholarship

• Michael Klipin (Bishop Druitt College, Coffs Harbour) - "Forgotten History: Civilian narratives and the legacy of U.S. bombing along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in northern and eastern Cambodia"
• David Van Tol (Kambala School, Rose Bay) - "Myth, Memory and Meaning: Teaching Cuba 1940 -1991 as a new HSC national study"

Premier’s Quality Teaching Scholarship

• Melinda Kearns (Conservatorium High School, Sydney / Moorefield Girls High School) - “How cross-pollination can create next-generation school mentorship”

Premier’s Economics Scholarship

• Julie Caddy (Merewether High School) - “Investigating strategies to encourage female students in studying HSC economics”

Premier’s Aboriginal Education Scholarship

• Tammy Anderson (Briar Road Public School) - “Investigating cultural influences on engagement, focusing on transition points for students”

Premier’s STEM and Technology Scholarship

• Tara Green (Elizabeth Macarthur High School) - “Strengthening earth science education through a STEM and First Nations lens in NSW public schools”

Premier’s Mathematics Scholarship

• Holly Wedd (Orara High School) - “Enhancing mathematics learning through artificial intelligence”

Premier’s Vocational Education in Schools Scholarship

• Megan Jennings (Belmont High School) - “Inclusive pathways from school to work for students with disabilities”

Premier's Inclusive Education Scholarship

• Jenny Kennedy (Bulli High School) - “Translating and implementing global practices of inclusive education for students with autism spectrum disorder”