ACHPER Victoria Awards ceremony and 33rd AGM wrap up

Thank you to all who came along to our ACHPER Victoria Awards ceremony and 33^rd AGM on 1 May 2019 at O’Brien Icehouse. We came together to acknowledge excellence achieved by those engaging in academic study, research and professional practice, as well as celebrate ACHPER Victoria’s achievements.

We also took the opportunity to thank our dedicated members and affiliates for working with us in our ongoing pursuit to enhance, support and advocate for quality Health and Physical Education in Victoria.

As a leading professional teaching association, each year we invite the eight Victorian tertiary institutions to identify and nominate their most outstanding students in courses related to ACHPER’s key areas of focus, being physical education, health education, recreation and outdoor education for an ACHPER Victoria Award. We are very proud to announce the following ACHPER Victoria Awards recipients:

Most Outstanding Graduating Students

These awards recognise students graduating from degree programs or specialist studies directly aligned with ACHPER’s areas of focus, being physical education, health education, recreation and outdoor education.

2018 Award for Most Outstanding Graduating Student - Program Award

2018 Award for Most Outstanding Graduating Student - Specialist Studies

Award of Distinction for Most Outstanding Research

This award recognises outstanding student research which makes an original and valuable contribution to knowledge in ways which connect with, and advance our understanding of the fields within ACHPER’s areas of focus.

2018 Award of Distinction for Most Outstanding Research

Honour Awards 2018

The ACHPER Victoria Honour Award recognises individuals who have demonstrated dedication, passion and service to the advancement of Health and Physical Education in Victoria and who have done so with a strong connection to ACHPER Victoria.

We are thrilled to recognise and congratulate 2018’s recipient, Katherine Jones. Katherine has been part of the ACHPER community since 2001 when she became a member. Since establishing her expertise in teaching secondary health and physical education Katherine has provided consistent and valuable support and advice to ACHPER Victoria and the broader profession through presenting at our conferences, workshops and contributing as a writer to our VCE trial exam and SAC resources.

Her main contributions have been in both the VCE PE and HHD space and this double talent is a rarity. Katherine has also played a role in the governance of ACHPER Victoria while serving on the board from 2006 -2011 and has mentored other teachers as they establish themselves as ACHPER presenters.

Katherine has provided expertise to highly regarded organisations such as Oxfam and Transport Accident Commission in the development of their curriculum resources and in doing this and all her other contributions is a strong advocate for ACHPER.

Katherine, we would like to thank you for your ongoing support and professionalism. You are someone with great integrity who provides ACHPER Victoria with valuable expertise in an honest, reliable manner and without compromise to quality or professionalism. We are incredibly grateful for all that Katherine does for us and the wider teaching profession.

Excellence in Teaching Awards 2018 - Health and Physical Education Teacher of the Year

Offered for the first time this year, this award is open to ACHPER members who are current practicing primary and secondary teachers in Victorian schools within ACHPER’s areas of focus. Winners listed below have demonstrated excellence in relation to their professional knowledge, practice, innovation and engagement in the teaching of physical education, health education, and/or outdoor education.

 ACHPER Victoria Primary Teacher of the Year: Christina Polatajko - Newbury Primary School

 As a passionate and dedicated educator for over 10 years, Christina makes connections with her students and ensures her content follows with purpose and meaningful structure, emphasising the importance of HPE in everyday life. Through her development of walk to school programs and whole school sports events, as well as connecting with local community sports to showcase their support and engage students, Christina’s greatest reward is ‘making a difference’.

ACHPER Victoria Secondary Teacher of the Year: Richard Allan - Melba College

As VCE Coordinator, Richard’s knowledge of his students and how they learn is integral to his students’ exceptionally high results. Richard not only provides his students with the skills they need to succeed in their individual classes, but prepares them exceptionally well for external assessments and builds a strong literacy base that is transferrable and extends student performance across other subject areas.

New Board Members announced

Also announced on this night as part of the AGM was the appointment of three ACHPER Victoria Board Members. Congratulations to Chloe Dew, Kate Simpson and Peter Wright who were re-elected to the Board via the members vote! We look forward to working together to promote high quality HPE in Victoria in the coming year.

Take a look at photos from the evening below >>

📸 by Michelle Couling Photography

Thanks again to everyone in attendance, and special thanks to Victoria's Officer for Women In Sport, the fantastic Dr Bridie O'Donnell for speaking and inspiring us with her presentation on the night :)

Please click here to learn more about the ACHPER Victoria Board. Questions or comments? Get in touch.