For the past 8 weeks, we’ve been bringing you the stories of our Teacher Awards 2024 winners. The Teacher Awards celebrate the incredible work of teachers, school leaders and support staff in K-12 school settings across Australia who are working to lift student achievement and wellbeing.
In our final profile on our 2024 winners, we speak with the winner of our Special Contribution Award. The Special Contribution Award celebrates an individual member of staff or school team, including those not involved in teaching and learning (for example, support staff, office and administration staff, and wellbeing staff). It is an opportunity to sing their praises and say thank you for their positive contribution to the school community.
The 2024 winner of our Special Contribution Award is Alison Morley from St Canice’s Primary School in New South Wales. Alison was nominated by her principal and has been recognised by our Judging Panel for her positive impact on the school community.
‘Her commitment to the teaching profession, the Arts, and community is outstanding. It is clear that she has had a special and profound impact on young people’s lives.’ – Teacher Awards 2024 Judging Panel member.
The nomination was co-written by several of Morley’s colleagues and describes her unwavering commitment to the school community. ‘I’m very humbled and honoured,’ Morley tells Teacher.
Morley has been recognised for her contribution to a number of school initiatives, but also her devotion, expertise and collaborative spirit. ‘She creates a welcoming and supportive environment where her door is always open. Alison's willingness to assist others, coupled with her exceptional listening skills, make her an invaluable resource and cherished support to her colleagues. Her dedication to fostering a collaborative and compassionate workplace sets her apart,’ her nomination reads.
Embedding First Nations perspectives
St Canice’s Primary School is in Katoomba, on a Blue Mountain’s world-heritage listed site. As the Art teacher, Morley says the environment surrounding the school is a constant source of inspiration.
‘As a staff we try to connect our students to that natural environment and give them the opportunities to be carers of the land that we walk upon,’ she tells Teacher.
In their nomination, Morley’s colleagues also described her commitment to First Nations education at the school. ‘In 2023, Alison worked with colleagues to plan and implement an integrated Indigenous Education program, “Sky Country Dreaming”. This Indigenous Education unit brought Art, Music, Dance, English and Science together under the one umbrella. The Sky Country unit of learning impacted all staff and students at St Canice’s, deepening our appreciation of our local Indigenous people and our understanding of our Indigenous culture and history,’ the nomination read.
‘My role was to support teachers in their teaching of that unit, help coordinate special events during the term – Welcome to Country; we had a big exhibition of all the students’ work throughout the term; and educate the students in various forms of Indigenous art and then also liaise with our Elders in our community,’ Morley shares.
Celebrating students’ work
St Canice’s Primary School educates 65-70 students and is contained within one building. In their nomination, Morley’s colleagues called out her dedication to showcasing student art in many areas of the school.
‘We’re uniquely in one building … so I use the stairwells, I use the pinboards, you know, just to celebrate the kids’ work. And acknowledging that their work is worthwhile. And they really love looking at each other’s work. The art room’s usually fairly full, so I spill out into the corridors and the stairwells and any place that’s free to do it,’ she shares with Teacher.
‘And we’ve also got what we call our Outdoor Art Gallery. So, we’re sort of tucked behind a church, sometimes people don't really know we’re here. We use it as a visible thing to say “hey, we're here”. Our fantastic handyman’s put in a permanent area along a fence line where we can then display students’ artwork.
‘It just invites people into our driveway, and they get to see where we are, but they also get to see the beautiful work [students] do. … Every child has at least one piece out there of their work to be displayed.’
An impact on the wider school community
The Judging Panel also recognised Morley for bringing together the school community through the many initiatives she has worked on. For instance, her colleagues mentioned she leads the school’s Mini Vinnies charity initiative and has helped coordinate countless special events (such as Pyjama Day and Crazy Socks Day) and a whole-school Creative Arts extravaganza.
‘Alison’s work extends beyond teaching; she has been instrumental in coordinating fundraising activities for the St Vincent de Paul charity and leading the Mini Vinnies group. Her efforts in organising creative arts events and implementing the integrated Indigenous Education program, “Sky Country Dreaming,” have deepened the school community’s appreciation of Indigenous culture and history. Alison's ability to weave art, culture, and education together has not only inspired students but has also brought the entire school community together in meaningful ways.’ – Teacher Awards 2024 Judging Panel member.
‘I have many hats, as teachers in this school say. And I jump in on it and I'm happy to do it, because I love that creative side of the students’ work,’ Morley tells Teacher.
The Teacher Awards will be back for 2025! The Awards recognise work that’s been completed in the past 12 months, so it’s not too early to start thinking about your nomination for next year. You can browse the criteria for this award, and the other 7 categories, here.
As a primary school teacher or leader, think about how you’re utilising common spaces in your school to display student work. Do all students have the opportunity to have their work displayed?
