ACEL VIC Branch Awards 2026
 

Call for Nominations

A highlight of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders Victoria Branch is the annual celebration and presentation of awards. ACEL VIC honours those educational leaders who in the view of their peers have made a significant contribution to the understanding and practice of educational leadership.

To assist in this process, we urge all Victorian educators to consider nominating worthy candidates for recognition of their leadership and service to education. The award nomination process is confidential until completed, and nominations have been approved. The ACEL VIC Awards committee will evaluate nominations with respect to the essential criteria.

The ACEL VIC awards committee will contact successful nominees on the completion of the process. In all cases the Committee Convenor will also contact all nominators in relation to the outcome of their nomination. Nominators seeking further information or assistance should contact Hayley Dureau via email [email protected].

Branch processes and celebrations will be staggered across the calendar year. Information in regard to the awards ceremony is available on our website at: acel.org.au/calendar

Nominations close
Wednesday 8 April at 11.59pm (AEDT)

ACEL VIC Hedley Beare Educator of the Year Award

This award acknowledges the exceptional legacy made by Professor Hedley Beare to Australian and International education. Hedley was an inspirational and pragmatic leader who had experience of educational leadership at every level. His many achievements include creating the Northern Territory and ACT Schools’ Authorities, a Harkness Fellow, a Doctor of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, President of the International Congress for School Effectiveness (ICSEI), National Patron of ACEL, recipient of the ACEL Gold Medal (1991), and William Walker Memorial Orator (1998).

The ACEL VIC Hedley Beare Educator of the Year Award is presented to an outstanding educator who excels as a leader within an educational setting.

ACEL VIC Fellowship Awards

ACEL VIC presents Fellowships to those who have made outstanding educational leadership contributions to ACEL and/or whose work has influenced educational practice at a state and/or national level.

Anyone in the field of educational leadership or education may be nominated for an ACEL VIC Fellowship. Members of ACEL receiving a Fellowship are permitted to use the post nominal FACEL (VIC).

Evidence needs to be mapped against the following criteria:

  • Leading teaching and learning
  • Developing self and others
  • Leading improvement, innovation, and change
  • Leading the management of an organisation
  • Engaging and working with the educational, wider community and/or profession.

ACEL VIC Brian Caldwell Research Award

This award acknowledges and pays tribute to the scholarship and work of ACEL Victoria Patron Professor Brian Caldwell (FACE, FACEA). Brian is an outstanding and influential scholar whose work has played an influential role in reshaping thinking, policy, and practice about educational leadership nationally and internationally.

The recipient of this award is presented to a teacher, principal, or academic who has made an important and distinctive research contribution to educational leadership, policy, and/or practice in Victorian education.

The ACEL VIC Debbie Locco Leadership Award

This award acknowledges and perpetuates the memory of the life and work of Debbie Locco FACEL (VIC). Debbie was an inspirational and influential educator who played a pivotal leadership role in empowering and shaping future leaders.

The recipient of this award is an educator who has demonstrated Debbie’s passion, energy, and commitment to inspire current and future leaders and members of the profession, to engender the best possible educational outcomes for children and young people.

ACEL VIC President’s Award (Discretionary)

The Presidential Citation is an occasional award given by the President to recognise outstanding service to Australian education. It is presented to someone who has made an outstanding contribution in furthering the vision, mission, and objectives of ACEL.

ACEL VIC Media Award

This award is presented to a journalist from the print, radio, online, or television media who has made an outstanding contribution to raising the level of public awareness and the quality of debate on significant local, state, and/or national education issues.

Fill out the online form.