Study in Australia

Australian Awards for University Teaching

AUSTRALIAN AWARDS FOR UNIVERSITY TEACHING

The recipients of the 2024 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) have been announced, celebrating exceptional educators who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving teaching and the student experience in higher education. The AAUT honors individuals and teams who inspire, innovate, and lead both in and beyond the classroom. This year’s awardees exemplify excellence in teaching and have made significant contributions to enhancing the learning journey for students across Australia.

Congratulations to all recipients, whose work has made a lasting impact on students and the future of higher education. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to educators nationwide.

Watch the Video Announcement

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.

2024 Career Achievement Award

Professor Tracey Bunda – Nominated by The University of Queensland

We encourage everyone to explore the awardees’ profiles and celebrate their remarkable contributions.

2024 AAUT Awards Ceremony Booklet

We’re proud to celebrate this exciting announcement with you!

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

2024 AAUT Key Dates

  • 2024 Nomination Packs released: 6 May 2024
  • Professional development sessions for nominees: May – June
  • Nominee registration & submission: 12 August – 1 September
  • Assessment: September to December
  • Career Achievement Award nominations: 28 October to 15 November
  • 2024 award recipients announced: February 2025

 

Contact Details

AAUT Awards Team [email protected]

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

Ms. Daniele Patterson, AAUT Awards Coordinator +61 3 9925 1834

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 2024, 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 2024, 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 2024, 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

Each nominee is required to prepare a submission consisting of a written statement, and relevant supporting documents. This submission is referred to as a “nomination” Once completed, the Institutional Contact Officer (ICO) is responsible for the online submission of all nominations for their institution. The ICO will be notified of the award outcomes via email.

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.

All nominations must be submitted by your Institutional Contact Officer (ICO). The ICO is the central point of contact for all AAUT related matters.

2024 AAUT Nomination information packs

CITATIONS

PROGRAM AWARDS

TEACHING AWARDS

ASSESSMENT MATRICES

Resources for Nominees

2024

2023

Other resources

News and Events

2024 AAUT NEWSLETTERS

2018 to 2023 Archive AAUT Newsletters

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

Briefing/Professional development sessions

2024 AAUT Briefing/Professional Development Sessions Recording

2021 to 2022 Archive AAUT Briefing/Professional Development Sessions

Past Award Recipients

2020 to 2023 AAUT Video Series

We are delighted to have the recipients of the 2020 to 2023 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)

Watch 2018 to 2020 Australian University Teacher of the Year video here (Coming soon)

2023 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Professor Denise Chalmers
Nominated by Edith Cowan University

2022 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Professor David Boud – Deakin University

 

2021 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Adjunct Professor John Biggs AM

 

2020 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Vale Professor Tracey Bretag (1962 – 2020)

 

Past Award Booklets

Award Ceremony

2023 AUSTRALIAN AWARDS FOR UNIVERSITY TEACHING CEREMONY

Video: https://youtu.be/EfmN6LX96O4

Presented by UA Chair Professor David Lloyd and Awards Director Professor Angela Carbone.

 

2023 STATE-BASED AWARD CEREMONIES

A big thank you to the universities for hosting the 2023 state-based award ceremonies.

Study in Australia
©2025