Maddy Light, Melba Copland Secondary School, ACT 

Maddy is a second-year educator leading innovative inclusive practice and is changing how students perceive PE. She is driven to ensure all students are included. Maddy works hard to re-connect with the disengaged. She rejuvenated participation levels in her Year 10 HPE class by 80% by focusing on students who felt excluded by curriculum selection and physical expectations, including LGBTQIA+ students. Helping her class create a student-led program, involving reflection journals and surveys led to valuable feedback and student empowerment

Maddy is committed to professional development and sharing her knowledge with colleagues in specialty areas such as online learning and inclusion.

Joshua Ford, Brisbane Water Secondary College, Central Coast NSW 

Joshua is a passionate educator achieving great results early in his career. Through exemplary teaching, programming, sport organisation and coaching, Joshua is enriching student learning. Among his many achievements is a refresh of the College’s Outdoor Educations course, growing involvement from 60 to 120 students through extensive planning, organisation and innovative teaching practice. 

As a sport coordinator, Joshua redeveloped the College’s sport selection processes. He has continued to build up a successful rugby league program for female and male students and connect them to local clubs.

Joshua prioritses student wellbeing, with his caring approach valued during remote learning and coordinating Year 7 camps.