winner: Professional Learning Program

Trinity College SA

Nick Hately

Head of Trinity College

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Trinity College is a large multi-campus Pre-school to Year 12 school in South Australia, dedicated to holistic student success and continual improvement. Its flagship professional learning framework, Catalyst, combines complexity thinking, collaborative inquiry and adaptive leadership, addressing the rapidly evolving needs of education. In partnership with the University of South Australia and guided by Trinity’s Research Institute, Catalyst offers flexible micro-credentialled modules that staff apply through cycles of collaborative inquiry. Catalyst unites complexity thinking, teacher inquiry and adaptive leadership, bolstered by Trinity’s Research Institute and the University of South Australia. Staff engage in micro-credentialled modules, research-based projects and reflective collaboration, leading to a sustained culture of inquiry and practice-based evidence. Studies include meaning and purpose in Year 12, the impact of feedback on self-efficacy, and creative self-assessment. Participation soared from 10 to 340, with data revealing stronger engagement, literacy growth and richer classroom experiences. This ongoing cycle of feedback and adaptation continues to strengthen teacher professionalism and student outcomes at Trinity College.

As an independent, forward-thinking girls’ school we are committed to preparing girls for a lifetime of learning, leadership and engagement in our global community. We believe in girls. At Ruyton Girls’ School we foster the individuality of each girl in a caring and safe environment, nurturing her intellectual, physical, social and emotional qualities that are essential to flourish. Powerful learning is central to the Ruyton culture, building on our strong academic reputation. We focus on advancing the learning of every girl through the engagement of intellectual curiosity, building their knowledge and skills about how to learn, and supporting them to achieve their personal best and be exemplary citizens. We believe in real-world learning beyond the classroom, collaborating with the wider community to promote growth, discovery and sustainability. We empower our girls to lead lives of purpose with courage, character and compassion. Through the development of values and action-focused learning they are inspired to pursue equity and justice for self and others. By embracing diversity and raising their voices, our girls effect positive change and make a difference.

Nick Hately has served as Head of Trinity College since 2010. Under his dynamic leadership, the college has flourished and is recognised as a leader in staff professional development, community engagement, pastoral care and STEM education. He has championed a thriving arts culture and fostered inclusion across all areas of school life. Nick is a passionate advocate for affordable, high-quality and impactful schooling. With a commitment to ongoing learning, he holds master’s degrees in Business Administration, Leadership and Administration and Teacher Education and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Renowned as an engaging and inspiring leader, Nick draws on his skills to build authentic, connected and high-performing communities.

Head of Trinity College

Nick Hately

Lesley is Director of Pedagogy & Practice Development, leading college-wide coherence in teaching, learning and research across six schools. Her leadership is grounded in collaborative, complexity-aware practice, empowering teachers to exercise professional judgement and grow through practitioner inquiry. She designs evidence-informed professional learning and ethical frameworks that strengthen inclusive practice, self-regulated learning and student wellbeing. Known for a pragmatic, ‘power-with’ approach, Lesley cultivates social learning networks that align bottom-up innovation with college priorities, translating ideas into sustainable routines that benefit students and staff. As Director of the Trinity Research Institute, she is researching how networks, practices and value creation emerge in teacher-led inquiry to inform system-level improvement. Committed to developing whole people, she partners with leaders and faculties to connect pedagogy, curriculum and assessment, building a cohesive, future-focused learning environment in which staff and students can thrive.

Director of Pedagogy & Practice Development

Lesley Johnson

Allison Elcoate

Principal

Lesley Johnson

Director of Pedagogy & Practice Development

Allison Stewart

Head Teacher – Aboriginal Learning and Engagement Centre

Scott Sleap

NSW DoE, STEM Enrichment Coordinator

A proud Gulidjan woman living and working on Wiradjuri Country, Allison Stewart is the Head Teacher of the Aboriginal Learning and Engagement Centre at Murrumbidgee Regional High School. With 28 years of teaching experience across primary and secondary schools, Allison has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to improving the retention and educational outcomes of First Nations students while celebrating and preserving cultural identity. She has established cultural programs across the Griffith community of schools and embedded First Nations perspectives across the curriculum. Recognised with a Department Certificate and a Certificate of Recognition for her dedication to Aboriginal Education, Allison has been a driving force behind the award-winning Deadly STEMers program.

Head Teacher – Aboriginal Learning and Engagement Centre

Allison Stewart

Professor Scott Sleap is a nationally recognised STEM education leader at the NSW Department of Education, where he leads the STEM Enrichment team. He is also Professor of Practice – STEM at the University of Sydney. A Winston Churchill Fellow and recipient of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching, Scott has driven innovative initiatives that build teacher capability and inspire students in future-focused learning. Through his leadership, strategic partnerships with industry, universities and government have flourished, creating authentic STEM opportunities for young people. His work champions equity, innovation and excellence in STEM education across Australia.

NSW DoE, STEM Enrichment Coordinator

Scott Sleap