SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC TEACHING AWARDS

Ms BETTISON (Ramsay) (15:21): I rise today to share with the house the excellent results of northern suburbs schools in the SA Public Teaching Awards. In August, more than 70 teachers and staff were named as winners in their regions. The award recognises dedicated and hardworking teachers, leaders and support staff for public schools and preschools. The categories are: School/Preschool Leader of the Year, Secondary School Teacher of the Year, Primary School Teacher of the Year, Early Years Teacher of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, School/Preschool Support Staff Member of the Year, and Innovative Engagement with Business and Community.

We had an exceptional result with Salisbury High having three regional winners. The regional winners were principal Anne Prime, teacher Evan Polymeneus and the senior special class. The senior special class was a regional winner in the Innovative Engagement with Business and Community category. Also in the northern area, Paralowie R to 12 had two regional winners: Mary Jo Bellew for school support, and Deidre Murphy as a primary school teacher. Since 2011, Salisbury High School has had seven regional winners, which is actually a new record in this category.

In October, the actual state winners were announced and Evan Polymeneus was awarded the Secondary School Teacher of the Year. Evan is a teacher at Salisbury High School. He has been teaching in the northern suburbs since 1999 and is known for his 'take a walk in their shoes' teaching philosophy. He encourages students to empathise with people around the world in different cultural and social circumstances.

Evan also runs an aviation unit where he links curriculum to the real world by teaching students about the aeronautical history of Parafield Airport and builds model planes. These public teaching awards are to encourage excellence, enthusiasm and innovation in our teachers. The winners of these state awards received up to $20,000 towards professional development.

I would like to make a little bit more of a mention of the senior special class at Salisbury High School, because not only have they recently been a regional winner for Innovative Engagement with Business and Community but they also took out some special mentions and top honours at the Royal Show. They had 10 awardees out of a total of 14 entries in the Junior Technology competition. With a particular concentration on photography, there is a significant list of winners.

The first place photography winners were Alicia Moore, Natalia Jara and Tayla Denk, who received two first place prizes. Second place went to Alicia Moore, Claire Jarvis, Madeline Lucas and Sallie Mahoney, and Brittany Tonkins and Natalia Jara placed third. Dual winner, year 12 student Alicia Moore has studied photography for three years. She received first place for a colour portrait and second place for a classical black-and-white portrait.

We know and we have just heard in the house today how important education is to having a successful regular income and to lowering unemployment rates. We have a great commitment with our government to supporting people to finish their schooling.

It is really fantastic to see that our teachers, who are at the forefront of supporting our students to complete their schooling, are being seen as the best in their category and the best not just regionally but to go on then to win this state award. So, I am very proud to be a northern suburbs MP, I am very proud of our schools and I encourage them to keep up the good work.