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Australian Awards for University Teaching

AUSTRALIAN AWARDS FOR UNIVERSITY TEACHING

Welcome to another inspiring year of the AAUT Awards.

We’re excited to announce that nominations will open on 25 August and close on 10 September 2025. The AAUT Awards continue to honour the exceptional achievements of educators, programs, and institutions across Australia. Your dedication plays a crucial role in shaping the future of higher education and enriching the broader community.

These awards celebrate the passion, innovation, and excellence that define our academic community. We are proud to launch this important initiative again in 2025 and to recognise the individuals and teams driving meaningful change.

We encourage all nominees, assessors, and institutions to embrace this opportunity to reflect on their contributions and the profound impact they have on students and society. More than a celebration, the AAUT Awards are a catalyst for continued growth, collaboration, and a shared commitment to educational excellence.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication to teaching and learning. Your work is vital to the strength and reputation of Australian higher education.

We look forward to recognising another year of outstanding contributions through the AAUT Awards.

Warm regards,

Professor Angela Carbone
AAUT Awards Director
ADVC LTQ STEM College, RMIT University

About AAUT

The Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) were established in 1997 by the Australian Government to celebrate and reward excellence in university teaching. Since then, the Awards have become a valued form of recognition for university educators Australia wide.

The AAUT recognise the impact that educators have on the learning and teaching experiences and outcomes of university students. They celebrate and reward programs and practices that support students and enhance learning. They promote excellence in learning and teaching in all aspects of higher education. Recipients, with the support of their institutions, contribute to systemic change in learning and teaching through the ongoing sharing and dissemination of knowledge.

This year, there are five award types promoting and recognising excellence in learning and teaching.

  • Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
  • Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning
  • Awards for Teaching Excellence
  • Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year
  • Career Achievement Award

2025 AAUT Key Dates

  • 2025 Nomination Packs released: 16 June
  • Professional development sessions for nominees: See the AAUTN website for the latest info
  • Nominee registration & submission:  25 August – 10 September
  • Assessment: October to December
  • Career Achievement Award nominations: 27 October – 14 November
  • 2025 award recipients announced: February 2026

Contact Details

AAUT Awards Team [email protected]

Ms. Angeline Sim, AAUT Awards Manager +61 3 9925 3815

Award Types

Citations for outstanding contributions to student learning (Citations)

Citations recognise and reward the diversity of contributions made by individuals and teams to the quality of student learning. They are awarded to individuals or teams who have contributed to the quality of student learning in a specific area of responsibility over a sustained period, whether they are academic staff, general staff, sessional staff or institutional associates.

In 2025, up to 100 citations will be awarded across the categories below:

Discipline categories

  • Natural and Physical Science, Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies
  • Engineering, Information Technology, Architecture and Building
  • Health
  • Education
  • Business, Management and Commence
  • Society and Culture
  • Creative Arts
  • Multi-disciplinary

Nomination categories

  • Early Career (For academics with less than five years teaching experience in higher education institutions)
  • Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education (For Indigenous teaching staff only)
  • Sessional staff

Maximum of six Citation submissions per institution.

Awards for programs that enhance learning (Program Awards)

Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning recognise learning and teaching programs and services that make innovative and outstanding contributions to student learning outcomes and the quality of the student experience. They are awarded to programs and services that have set high standards for learning and teaching activities in Australian higher education institutions. Program awards are now open to individual and team nominations.

In 2025, up to four awards will be granted across the categories below:

  • Student experience that supports diversity and inclusive practices.
  • Collaborative educational partnerships in learning and teaching.
  • Curriculum transformation and innovative pedagogy.
  • Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs that value and enhance student employability.

Maximum of two Program Awards submissions per institution across all categories.

Awards for teaching excellence (Teaching Awards)

Awards for Teaching Excellence recognise Australia’s most outstanding university teachers who have demonstrated excellent leadership through sustained commitment to innovation, delivery of quality teaching and sustained dedication to improving the student experience and learning outcomes.

In 2025, up to nine awards will be granted across the categories below:

Discipline categories

  • Natural and Physical Science, Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies
  • Engineering, Information Technology, Architecture and Building
  • Health
  • Education
  • Business, Management and Commence
  • Society and Culture
  • Creative Arts

Nomination categories

  • Early Career (For academics with less than five years teaching experience in higher education institutions)
  • Neville Bonner Award for Indigenous Education (For Indigenous teaching staff only)

Maximum of three Teaching Awards submissions per institution across all categories.

Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year

The Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year (AAUTY) is the premier university teaching award. Among the Teaching Award recipients, one individual with an exceptional record of advancing student learning, educational leadership and scholarly contribution to learning and teaching will be awarded the Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year.

Career Achievement Award

In 2020, Universities Australia has reinstated the Career Achievement Award that occasionally awarded to one or more individuals who have met the following criteria:

  • Made an outstanding contribution to learning and teaching.
  • Recognised for the impact they have had on the higher education sector.
  • Achievements had a major influence and left an enduring legacy.
  • Served in higher education capacity for at least 25 years.

How to Nominate

Nominees must prepare a submission that includes a written statement and relevant supporting documentation. Once finalised, the Institutional Contact Officer (ICO) is responsible for submitting the nomination online. Comprehensive submission guidelines are provided in the nomination packs.

All nominations must be submitted by the ICO, who serves as the key liaison for all AAUT-related matters within their institution.

Eligible Institutions and ICOs

Only teachers from Universities Australia’s member universities are eligible to apply for an Award or Citation. Nomination is open to academic, general and sessional staff (full-time or fractional, continuing or contract) from an eligible institution.

2025 AAUT Nomination information packs

ASSESSMENT MATRICES

Resources for Nominees

AAUT Professional Development Sessions

2022-23 Archive AAUT Briefing/Professional Development Sessions

Other resources

2025 AAUT & UniSA Breakfast Series

 

News and Events

2025 AAUT NEWSLETTERS

AAUT Newsletters Archive: 2018 to 2024

AAUT Promotional Resources

AAUT Brochures

We encourage universities to widely promote these awards in their institution by utilising the range of resources listed below.

Video Series

Past Award Recipients

2020 to 2024 AAUT Video Series

We are delighted to have the recipients of the 2020 to 2024 Australian Awards for University Teacher of the Year (AAUTY), sharing their journey of winning the awards and some encouragement to the aspiring applicants.

2023 AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Associate Professor Zala Volcic, Monash University

Watch: A/Prof Zala Volcic

 

2022 AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Dr Poh Wah Hillock, The University of Queensland

Watch: Dr Poh Wah Hillock

 

2021 AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Professor Katerina Teaiwa, The Australian National University

Watch: Prof. Katerina Teaiwa video (Transcript)

 

2024 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Professor Tracey Bunda – The University of Queensland

Watch: Prof Tracey Bunda

2023 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Emeritus Professor Denise Chalmers – Nominated by Edith Cowan University

Watch: Emeritus Prof Denise Chalmers

 

2022 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Professor David Boud – Deakin University

Watch: Prof David Boud

 

2021 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Adjunct Professor John Biggs AM

Watch:Adjunct Prof John Biggs AM

 

Past Award Booklets

Award Ceremony

2024 AUSTRALIAN AWARDS FOR UNIVERSITY TEACHING CEREMONY

Presented by UA Chair Professor David Lloyd, Awards Committee Chairs – Professor Liz Johnson, Professor David Sadler, Emeritus Professor Pip Pattison, and Professor Sally Kift; and AAUT Awards Director Professor Angela Carbone.

AAUT Awards Ceremony Videos Archive: 2020 to 2023

 

2024 STATE-BASED AWARD CEREMONIES

A big thank you to the following universities for hosting the 2024 state-based award ceremonies.

View the photos and recordings from these events.

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