Australian Awards for University Teaching

The ³ÉÈË´óƬ supports in the promotion and participation of the annual .

The AAUTÌýwere established in 1997 by the Australian Government to celebrate and reward excellence in university teaching.Ìý

AAUT recognise the impact that educators have on the learning and teaching experiences and outcomes of university students. They celebrate and reward teaching and programs that support students and enhance learning. They also promote excellence in learning and teaching in all aspects of higher education.

Recipients contribute to systemic change in learning and teaching through the ongoing sharing and dissemination of knowledge. There are three award types promoting and recognising excellence in learning and teaching which are:

  • Citations for OutstandingÌýContributions to Student Learning (Citations)
  • Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning (Program Awards)
  • Awards for Teaching Excellence (Teaching Awards)
  • Award for ³ÉÈË´óƬ Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to the following staff from the ³ÉÈË´óƬ who recently received an Australian Award for University Teaching.

Announced at the national award ceremony on 26 February 2024.

Michelle McArthur

Associate Professor Michelle McArthur

Associate Professor Michelle McArthur
School of Animal and Veterinary Science
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

For leadership in the development and delivery of an impactful innovative curriculum in veterinaryÌýcommunication and wellbeing to equip graduates with crucial resilience capacities.

Veterinary science is a profession that has one of the highest rates of mental illness amongst itsÌýpractitioners and students and a devastatingly high rate of death by suicide. Until recently, this was not addressed in the training of veterinarians with many graduates entering the workplace unprepared for the stresses associated with the profession. MichelleÌýcreated an innovative wellbeing andÌýcommunication skills program at the ³ÉÈË´óƬ’s veterinary school over ten years ago. This curriculum was designed to ultimately improve and maximise professional capacities including self-reflection, wellbeing, and communication.ÌýStudents now progressively develop wellbeing and resilience capabilities throughout their training as these crucial skills have been integrated within each year level.

Ìý

Thomas Wanner

Dr Thomas WannerÌý

Dr Thomas WannerÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
School of Social Science
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

For effective use of flexible and personalised assessment strategies, underpinned by innovativepedagogies and technologies that empower students and enhances their learning.

Thomas has been teaching for over 20 years in international development, a multi-disciplinary field ofÌýresearch and practice concerned with the processes of achieving human, economic, social and political development in very poor countries of the Global South.ÌýHis innovative teaching pedagogies around flexible and personalised assessment have been recognised by multiple teaching excellence awards and have been very well received by students. Colleagues have also adopted his approach and technologies in their own teaching. His scholarship about empowering student learning through assessment has had an impact on the wider academic community through presentations at national and international higher education conferences, and publications in high quality journals.ÌýHe aims to develop the critical thinking skills of his students so that they understand how power relations shape those issues and that they feel empowered to become ‘agents of change’ for a more equitable and sustainable world.Ìý

Thomas featured in This is How I Teach, November 2021

Ìý

Walter Barbieri

Dr Walter BarbieriÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Dr Walter BarbieriÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
School of Education
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics
Nomination category – Early Career

An early-career academic leading innovative and impactful degree-wide programs that prepare pre-service teachers to use cutting-edge technologies for their own and their future students’ learning.

Australian classrooms are among the most digitally connected in the world (OECD, 2023), with most secondary schools operating 1:1 device programs across subject areas. Australia’s teachers, however, often struggle to use the devices in their classrooms for effective teaching and learning (Selwyn et al., 2017). It is incumbent on Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs at the University to equip aspiring teachers with contemporary skills and mindsets to leverage learning technologies effectively.ÌýSince his appointment in 2018 as a lecturer in the School of Education (SoE), Walter has taught Bachelor of Teaching (BTeach) and Master of Teaching (MTeach) degree courses to develop pre-service teachers (PSTs) into technologically adept teachers fit for 21st-century schools. Walter'sÌýwork has been recognised with a Commendation for the Enhancement and Innovation of Student Learning and a Faculty of Arts Excellence in Teaching Prize. Externally, Apple has identified his teaching practice as a global exemplar of innovation in education, and has named the SoE as the first tertiary Apple Distinguished School in Australia.Ìý Through his work Walter feels privileged to be able to influence future generations of teachers.

Walter featured in This is How I Teach, May 2023


    How can I apply?

    Submissions for ³ÉÈË´óƬ Staff are typically by invitation onlyÌýhowever, should you be interested in writing a submission please contact the Teaching Excellence Team, for to discuss the options available to you.

    It is never too early to start your application.

    The following resources have been compiled from sources including SANTPEN workshops and the AAUT website.

    Resources for AAUT applicants


    Former recipients

    Congratulations to the former recipients of these prestigious awards.

    • 2022

      Award for Teaching Excellence

      and Ìý(Team award),ÌýSchool of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Faculty of SET.

      Since 2011, Education Specialists Beth and Karina have enhanced the transition of second year students through to completion in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine. They have ledÌýfit-for-purpose initiatives to enhance learning and engagement through thoughtfully and intentionally addressing the needs of their students.Ìý

      Beth and Karina provide stimulating and invigorating learning environments which cater to student diversity, embrace their life experiences and prepare them to be at the forefront of knowledge and practice to solve global issues such as global food security, climate change, sustainability, carbon footprints and transformative technologies.

      Their strategies include the use ofÌýreal-life scenarios and hands on application through Flipped Laboratories, Team-Based Learning, Students as Partners and Discovery Learning. In 2019, they took Discovery Learning pedagogy to the next level by involving students in research and development for a start-up company, Mister RyeTM, to produce sustainable drinking straws. AnotherÌýexample of their successful work is theÌýWaite Peer Mentor Program established in 2018. Through creating the space for a range of social activities they have facilitated informal opportunities for students and staff to meet which supports the students’ transition to the campus in their second year and builds a Waite Campus Community.Ìý

      Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

      ,ÌýSchool of Social Sciences, Faculty of ABLE

      Hong has received a citationÌý'For excellence and leadership in developing language initiatives that support the social inclusion and cultural integration of international students and enhance student experiences across disciplines'.

      Her work addresses both the challenge many international students face in gaining a sense of belonging in their host country, and the challenge for domestic students in learning a foreign language without an authentic, immersive environment. She has brokenÌýsocial and cultural bubbles through a variety of innovative and authentic learning experiences including theÌýVolunteer Tutors Program (VTP) andÌýInter-professional learning which brings students in theÌýMaster of Arts in Interpreting, Translation and Trans-cultural CommunicationÌýtogether with students in medicine andÌýlaw.

      Hong's impact has been far reaching with over 800 international and 1300 domestic students participating in the VTP, and more than 1500 in the inter-professional learning program.

    • 2020

      Ìý

      Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

      Professor Kerry Wilkinson
      For creative digital technologies that support independent learning, overcome discipline-specific learning andÌýteaching challenges, and inspire wine making/ wine business students to engage with industry practice.

      Ìý

      Team -ÌýPrinciples of Public Law (PPL)

      For enlivening first-year law students’ spirit of discovery in a large compulsory course through anÌýauthentic inquiry-based learning experience enabled by flipped classroom pedagogy.

    • 2019

      Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning


      For effective use of gamification to teach neuroscience, leading to a deeper understanding of course material and richer student engagement.

      Ìý

    • 2018

      Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning


      For sustained commitment, innovation and leadership in the education of veterinary dermatology and immunology at local, national and international levels.

      Dr Nicolene Lottering
      For engaging digital learners through a technology-enhanced learning framework to improve deep learning and student engagement in second year anatomy students. For engaging digital learners through a technology-enhanced learning framework to improve deep learning and student engagement in second year anatomy students.
      Ìý

    • 2017

      Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

      The BEST Team

      • Associate Professor Catherine SnellingÌý (Current Titleholder with the ³ÉÈË´óƬ)
      • Associate Professor Sophie KaranicolasÌý

      For the BEST approach: enhancing learning and teaching through a sustained colleague development program.

      Professor Michael Liebelt
      For leadership and innovation in the development of curricula and pathways in professional engineering education, designed to improve flexibility and choice for students.

    • 2016

      Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning


      ÌýFor leading cultural change in approaches to the dental clinical student learning environment, through the provision of outstanding support of sessional staff.

      Ìý


      For the development of a new curriculum built around an e-learning environment, which has significantly increased student success and retention in first-year French

      Ìý

      Foundations of Chemistry Team

      For restructuring the first year chemistry pathway to provide students with limited chemistry knowledge a supportive learning environment that encourages engagement and academic excellence.