Professional Development > Reward and Recognition Programs >

Reward and Recognition

The Queensland Department of Education and Training values the commitment and achievements of all teaching and non-teaching employees.

The Department 's Rewards and Recognition program recognises long and valued service within the Department - as administered by the Director-General of Education and Training - and comprises recognition across a number of programs.

New Professionalism - Minister's Awards for School Leader and Teacher Excellence

The New Professionalism program will not be offered for 2009/10. This program encompasses the following award categories:

Professional Development Grants for Teacher Aides (30 awards x $1200 each)
Regional Innovators Awards (15 awards x $6 000 each)
Minister 's Awards for Education Futures (10 awards x $15,000 each)
Minister 's Awards for Teacher Excellence (5 awards x $20,000 each)
Minister 's Awards for Excellence in School Leadership (5 awards x $25,000 each).

The New Professionalism awards will be put on hold during 2009/10 and will be reviewed to ensure they provide the best possible opportunities for the department 's employees.

For Teachers Only - closed 31 July 2009:

Teacher Excellence Career Milestones - recognise teaching service by full-time and part-time teachers at key milestones in their career. Awards are presented once annually - during the week of World Teachers' Day (last Friday of October annually in Queensland) to teachers who celebrate the anniversary of commencing their 5th, 10th or 20th year of teaching service in the current calendar year.

The Professional Year (new window) 204k (new window) 204k is a self-funded sabbatical year to allow permanent teachers in Education Queensland to undertake professional learning. The program allows teachers to 'bank ' funds across three terms to allow them to engage in professional learning while maintaining an income stream during the sabbatical period in the fourth-term. (Application form (new window) 196k (new window) 196k )

For All Departmental Employees - open all year:

A 25 Year Service Medallion (new window) 327k (new window) 327k recognises teaching and non-teaching employees ' valuable contributions to education over a period of 25 years or more.
a) Regional application (new window) 302k (new window) 302k form
b) Central Office application (new window) 252k (new window) 252k form
(Special recognition beyond 25 years is not made until retirement.)
Retirement Certificates (new window) 301k (new window) acknowledging departmental employees retiring at age 55 - or earlier for health reasons - are available on application. (Application form (new window) 301k (new window) )
A retirement letter (new window) 327k (new window) 327k of appreciation and small corporate gift from the Director-General is also available to those employees who retire having contributed 30 years or more service within the Department.

Scholarship programs for students or non-teachers

Although not part of the Minister's Awards for School Leader and Teacher Excellence program, the Department of Education and Training recognises the need to develop a workforce that provides opportunities to increase the number of teachers in key areas such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or rural and remote teachers in Queenslands education system. Other scholarship programs available to year 12 graduates, departmental non-teaching staff, post-graduate and post-school students are outlined under Scholarships and Awards on this website.

Further Information on Reward and Recognition

For further information, or to request that guidelines and application forms be emailed to you once available, visit the guidelines site for each of the categories above or contact the Project Officer (Strategy and Performance), Professional Development Unit.

^ Top of page