Media Release
PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS’ COUNCIL NEW SOUTH WALES CONTACT: David Browne (02) 9716 0378
26 October 2018
Celebration of Excellence
Friday 26 October 2018 is World Teachers’ Day and the Professional Teachers’ Council New South Wales (PTC NSW) seeks the support of the media in the recognition and celebration of our teachers and the teaching profession. “Teaching is the profession that teaches all of the other professions” – Author unknown.
World Teachers’ Day is an important acknowledgement of the professionalism of teachers and their invaluable contribution to the future of our society through their professional teaching associations.
UNESCO first declared World Teachers’ Day in 1994. Since that time communities around the world have been honouring their teachers on this day.
“World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity to publically acknowledge the work of all teachers. It is also a time to express gratitude to the many volunteer teaching associations and show them how much they’re valued,” said Dr Denis Mootz, President of the Professional Teachers’ Council NSW.
“It is the opportunity for the community to reflect on and acknowledge the vital and challenging work that all teachers do” Dr Mootz said.
In recognition of the outstanding work teachers undertake through their professional teaching associations the Professional Teachers’ Council NSW established the prestigious Outstanding Professional Service Awards (OPSA) as an acknowledgment of excellence in the profession.
The Professional Teachers’ Council (PTC NSW) introduced Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award (OBTA) from last year, to recognise the outstanding professional contribution by an individual committee member, with five or less years teaching experience to education in NSW, made through a professional teachers’ Association.
These awards recognise the outstanding professional contribution to education made by teachers through professional teaching associations. “The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters. The hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters every day’’-Todd Whittaker.
The Professional Teachers’ Council NSW is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018 awards.
Outstanding Professional Service Award (OPSA) Recipients
| Nominating Association | Full Name |
| The Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) | Kristy O’Mahony |
| Association for Studies of Religion | Michael Reid |
| Australian Society for Music Education (ASME) NSW | Kirsten Macaulay |
| Careers Advisers Association of NSW & ACT Inc | Tracy Ryan |
| Careers Advisers Association of NSW & ACT Inc | Glenys Lawson |
| Chinese Language Teachers Association of NSW Inc | Yi-Shan (Tina) Mo |
| English Teachers Association | Alexander Wharton |
| English Teachers Association | Suzy Taplin |
| Home Economics Institute of Australia NSW Division | Dr Jennifer McArthur |
| History Teachers’ Association of NSW | Jonathon Dallimore |
| Legal Studies Association | Sophie Mynott |
| Legal Studies Association | Judy McDonald |
| Mathematical Association of NSW | Karen McDaid |
| Modern Language Teachers Association NSW | Dr Robyn Moloney |
| NAFT – NSW Association of French Teachers | Marion Rosen |
| Orff Schulwerk Association of NSW | Sarah Powell |
| Society and Culture Association | Amanda Newell |
| Science Teachers’ Association of NSW | Anjali Rao |
| Visual Arts and Design Educators Association | Sally Dewar |
| Visual Arts and Design Educators Association | Alan Guihot |
Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award (OBTA) Recipients
| Nominating Association | Full Name |
| Chinese Language Teachers Association of NSW Inc | Caoyang Lu |
| English Teachers Association | Lara Curtis |
| Orff Schulwerk Association of NSW | Belinda Smith |
| Visual Arts and Design Educators Association | Stephen Little |
2018 Media Award Chelsea Channing, Woo-ing a nation, Education HQ, published 19 March 2018