- Published:
- Saturday 25 October 2025 at 12:00 pm
The Allan Labor Government has celebrated the Education State’s most inspiring teachers, principals and school staff at an awards night recognising the passion, innovation, and dedication that underpins Victoria’s world-class education system.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll congratulated the winners and finalists at this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards which honours outstanding teachers, principals, business managers and education support staff at government schools.
Winners were celebrated across 14 categories, recognising recipients for their achievements in education, the positive impact on their school communities and student learning and wellbeing outcomes.
The awards were presented at a prestigious ceremony last night at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne, ahead of Australia's celebration of World Teachers’ Day on 31 October.
The Deputy Premier presented the Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education, which recognises the educator whose contribution to Victorian government school education is judged to be the most outstanding.
For the first time, the Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education was awarded to an early career teacher. Chufeng Liu from Suzanne Cory High School improved educational outcomes for his students by setting high expectations, embedding inclusive practices in teaching and an unwavering belief in every student’s potential.
Other winners include Kerrimuir Primary School Principal Michael McLean, who received the Outstanding Primary Principal award for his work in improving learning outcomes at a school with a diverse student background.
Alice Jury won the Outstanding Primary Teacher award for her excellence in teaching phonics and Wendouree Primary School earned the the Outstanding Education Support Team award for its hands on approach to the school’s garden and kitchen program.
Victorian Education Excellence Award winners received grants of up to $25,000 to undertake professional learning and access further resources and opportunities to drive excellence in Victorian public education.
More information about the awards, winners and finalists is available at https://www.vic.gov.au/VEEA.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll
“Our teachers, principals and education professionals do a crucial job in educating our young people and these awards recognise those who go that extra mile to help young Victorians thrive at school.”
“These winners and finalists deserve our praise and thanks for the crucial work they are doing to give Victorian students a great education.”
Individual Award Winners
Lindsay Thompson Excellence in Education - Chufeng Liu, Suzanne Cory High School
Outstanding Primary Principal - Michael McLean, Kerrimuir Primary School
Colin Simpson Outstanding Secondary Principal- Christopher Quinn, Western Port Secondary College
Outstanding Early Career Primary Teacher - Felicity Jenkins, Box Hill North Primary School
Outstanding Early Career Secondary Teacher- Chufeng Liu, Suzanne Cory High School
Outstanding Primary Teacher- Alice Jury, Canadian Lead Primary School
Outstanding Secondary Teacher- Robert Harrow, Victorian College for the Deaf
Outstanding Business Manager - Katrina Palmer, Kurnai College
Team Award Winners
Outstanding School Improvement - Western Port Secondary College
Outstanding Education Support Team - Wendouree Primary School
Outstanding Inclusive Education Team - Travancore School
Outstanding Koorie Education Team - Koorie Emerging Leaders in Schools, Bayside Peninsula network
Outstanding Provision for High-Ability Students – Primary - Heathmont East Primary School
Outstanding Provision for High-Ability Students – Secondary - Albert Park College
Dr Lawrie Shears Outstanding Global Teaching and Learning - Albert Park College