The Professional Practice Awards acknowledge the outstanding achievement and efforts of individual staff, both in diocesan Catholic schools and the Catholic Education Office who, in the course of their work and study, have been exemplary in one or more particular areas of educational endeavour.
Nominations for the Professional Practice Awards are now closed
These awards are underpinned by the belief that every staff member is a leader in our schools through the direct and indirect work they undertake to enrich and develop their students in faith and learning.
Our Professional Practice Awards are conferred in recognition of exceptional performance across one of the following professional practices:
- Leading Catholic Life, Education and Mission
- Leading Teaching and Learning
- Developing Self and Others
- Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change
- Engaging and Working with the Community
An award will be given for recognised significant achievement in any or all of the professional practices to a maximum total of five (5) awards. This will be determined according to the quality and number of applications deemed worthy each year.
Each award consists of a $2,000 scholarship to fund a suitable professional development opportunity, and also a framed certificate. Scholarship prizes are to be redeemed within two (2) years of the date of being awarded unless otherwise approved by the Head of Human Resource Services.
A recipient of a Professional Practices Award is not eligible to be further nominated for a period of five (5) years following the conferring of their award. Further nominations may however be submitted for previous nominees if supported by current evidence at the time of the subsequent nomination.
Lighting the Way Award
Based on the recommendation of the moderating panel (appointed by the Awards and Recognition Organising Committee each year), the Director of Schools will endorse the most meritorious Professional Practice Award application received each year that demonstrates an outstanding contribution to the growth in faith and improvement in learning of students of the diocese. This individual will receive The Lighting the Way Award, the most prestigious award to be announced at the conferring event.
This award consists of a $5,000 scholarship to fund a suitable professional development opportunity, and also a framed certificate. All scholarship prizes are to be redeemed within two (2) years of the date of being awarded unless otherwise approved by the Head of Human Resource Services.
ELIGIBILITY for Professional practice awards
All staff currently employed in CEDoW are eligible for nomination for the Professional Practice Awards. Self-nominations are accepted. If nominating a colleague, please ensure that the nominee is aware of, and accepts, your intention to nominate them.
Note, a person cannot be directly nominated for the Lighting the Way Award.
Criteria for PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AWARD categories
Click the drop-down menu below to see the criteria for each Professional Practice Award category:
Leading Catholic Life, Education and Mission
Evidence of the nominee's:
- Commitment to giving witness to the Catholic faith tradition; and/or
- Provision of educational opportunities for members of the school community to participate in God’s mission; and/or
- Active involvement in, or leadership of, social justice initiatives or Catholic community-building opportunities.
For example, a nominee may have:
- Used innovative approaches to ensure that faith formation programs recognise the diversity of faith backgrounds in the school; and/or
- Implemented a significant faith formation opportunity for students or staff; and/or
- Demonstrated particular commitment to Catholic social teaching principles in their interactions with people in their community.
Leading Teaching and Learning
Evidence of the nominee's:
- Development of a culture of effective teaching at a school or system level; and/or
- Impact in leading, designing and/or managing quality teaching and learning for student achievement.
For example, a nominee may have:
- Developed and implemented an inspirational plan or program that has significantly benefited the learning outcomes for students; and/or
- Modelled exceptional pedagogy to support colleagues in developing practice, resulting in highly improved learning outcomes for students; and/or
- Used effective pedagogical practices to differentiate teaching and learning in the classroom, resulting in highly improved learning outcomes for students; and/or
- Implemented an action research project that had demonstrable outcomes for students and/or staff; and/or
- Developed a successful strategy to support individual or small groups of students in their learning programs.
Developing Self and Others
Evidence of the nominee’s:
- Commitment to building capacity through their own professional development; and/or
- Support of staff by managing performance, giving regular feedback and providing access to effective continuing professional learning opportunities.
For example, a nominee may have:
- Provided high quality, ongoing professional learning to staff or the wider school community; and/or
- Participated in a significant professional learning experience and shared new knowledge with staff that had a significant impact on the practice of others; and/or
- Engaged in school-based research which led to capacity building in themselves or others.
Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change
Evidence of the nominee’s:
- Innovative practice that has led to achievement of school or system priorities; and/or
- Implementation of a change management process that has resulted in measurable student or process improvement.
For example, a nominee may have:
- Been innovative in the development of a high quality program in response to a specific need in the community; and/or
- Successfully managed a significant change process within a school; and/or
- Led transformational change in their classroom, school, team or community.
Engaging and Working with the Community
Evidence of the nominee’s:
- Development and maintenance of positive partnerships with students, families and carers, the local church and/or the wider school community.
For example, a nominee may have:
- Built partnerships that have significantly enhanced relationships and demonstrated outcomes that meet the varied needs of the community; and/or
- Implemented a program that positively enhanced the reputation of the school; and/or
- Worked to realise the potential of the contributions brought to the organisation by a diverse range of people; and/or
- Implemented a successful community collaboration program.
2019 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AWARDS
Leading Catholic Life, Education and Mission Award:
Cathy Brown, Catholic Education Office
Leading Teaching and Learning Award:
James Bryce, St Michael’s Thirroul
Developing Self and Others Award:
Michael Shanahan, St Joseph’s Albion Park
Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change Award:
Amanda Wilson, St Joseph’s Albion Park
Engaging and Working with the Community Award:
Mark Mongta, Catholic Education Office
2018 Professional Practice Awards
Leading Catholic Life, Education and Mission Award:
Kate Burnett, Holy Spirit College, Bellambi
Leading Teaching and Learning Award:
Christopher Dyson, Corpus Christi Catholic High School, Oak Flats
Developing Self and Others Award:
Maria Turner, St Joseph’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Bulli
Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change:
Mark McKinnon, St John the Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra
Engaging and Working with the Community Award:
Neil McCann, Catholic Education Office
2018 LIGHTING THE WAY AWARD:
Mark McKinnon, St John the Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra
2017 Professional Practice Awards
Leading Catholic Life, Education and Mission Award:
Colleen Easton, St Paul's Catholic Parish Primary School, Albion Park
Leading Teaching and Learning Award:
Judith Tolomeo, Mount Carmel Catholic College, Varroville
Developing Self and Others Award:
Brother Bill Tarrant, Spiritual Director & Facilitator, Catholic Education Office
Leading Improvement, Innovation and Change Award:
Cindy Williams, St John the Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra
Engaging and Working with the Community Award:
Rebecca Coll, Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School, Fairy Meadow
2017 LIGHTING THE WAY AWARD:
Colleen Easton, St Paul's Catholic Parish Primary School, Albion Park
PROCESS FOR NOMINATIONS of PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AWARDS
1. Complete the online nomination form before the advertised closing date (Friday 1 October 2021). All staff currently employed in CEDoW are eligible for nomination for these awards.
2. If nominating a colleague, please ensure that the nominee is aware of, and accepts, your intention to nominate them. Self-nominations are also accepted.
3. Complete the three sections of the online nomination form (description of achievement, impact and evidence) with reference to the relevant criteria.
4. Attach any supporting evidence. This should include:
- A list of relevant activities, PD or professional involvement that demonstrate the nominee’s contribution; and/or
- Supporting evidence outlining the nominee’s achievements (eg: details of the range of activities and professional involvement that demonstrate the nominee’s contribution; any documentary evidence of the nominee’s achievements such as newspaper clippings, photos, certificates); and/or
- A photograph of the nominee.
5. Discuss your nomination with the Principal/Head of Service (HoS) or their delegate to ensure that:
- The quality of the nomination is appropriate and well supported by the documentation; and
- The Principal/HoS endorses the nomination.
6. Ensure that the ‘Principal’s/HoS’s Endorsement’ section of the nomination form has then been completed.
7. Your nomination will be acknowledged and an email receipt sent.
8. The Moderating Panel will assess the nominations, shortlist eligible applications, and make recommendations to the Director of Schools through the Awards and Recognition Organising Committee.
9. Invitations will be sent to shortlisted nominees, and their nominators, to attend the Lighting the Way Faith and Learning Recognition Awards Evening.
10. On the evening, successful award recipients will be conferred and all other shortlisted nominees in attendance will be acknowledged.
View the 'Process for Submitting Staff Award Nominations' flowchart here.
LIGHTING THE WAY FAITH AND LEARNING RECOGNITION AWARDS EVENING
The Lighting the Way Faith and Learning Recognition Awards Evening will be held on Friday, 1 April 2022 from 7pm at The Cube, Campbelltown Catholic Club.
The annual Lighting the Way Faith and Learning Recognition Awards Evening is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our CEDoW teachers and staff. It is an official and esteemed event in the annual diocesan calendar, attended by all the evening's nominees, and supporting school staff, principals and CEO personnel.
