SASTA Awards
There are many great teachers out there that often fly under the radar and SASTA would like to acknowledge, and celebrate their outstanding achievements and contributions to the science community.
This is your opportunity to nominate a colleague who has inspired you or is a role model in the community or share your own accomplishments!
It is free to nominate and there are a number of Awards available for SASTA members. Please see below for links to nomination forms and criteria for the various awards presented or nominated by SASTA.
Nominations for 2025 Awards are now open!
Click on the links below or scroll down for more information on each award:
- SASTA Medal
- Helen Castle Memorial Scholarship
- Credit Union SA/SASTA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Award
- SASTA Honour Award
Find out more about some of our previous award winners:
Celebrating Dedication in Science Education: Jane Hosking’s 2024 Honour Award
At SASTA, we honour the dedicated members who strengthen our community and contribute to quality science education. This year, we proudly recognise Jane Hosking, whose unwavering support for teachers and laboratory staff has... more...
Honouring Innovation in Science Education: Jarrod Johnson’s 2024 Honour Award
At SASTA, we are proud to celebrate individuals who inspire and innovate within the science education community. This year, we are thrilled to recognise Jarrod Johnson, whose commitment to engaging students with science... more...
2024 SASTA Award Winners
We heard from some our SASTA award winners about what inspires them as teachers. Miriam Doull, Mitcham Primary School - 2024 Credit Union SA / SASTA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science... more...
Get to know Sarah Todd...2023 SASTA Award Winner
Sarah Todd was our Primary 2023 Credit Union SA / SASTA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Award Winner. We asked her a few questions to get to know her a little... more...
Get to know Ross Riach...2023 SASTA Award Winner
Ross Riach was our Secondary 2023 Credit Union SA / SASTA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Award Winner. We asked him a few questions to get to know him a little... more...
SASTA Medal
The SASTA Medal is the highest honour awarded by SASTA to one of its members in recognition of their significant long term commitment to the association and their contribution to science education.
Criteria
- The nominator must be a current member of SASTA.
- The nominee must have been a member of SASTA for at least 10 years.
- The nominee should have made a significant contribution to SASTA or have an active involvement in science education. This would include voluntary work in any of the following:
- SASTA committees or reference groups
- representing SASTA
- facilitating professional development
- curriculum development
- mentoring
- writing articles or books
View the SASTA Medal recipients
Helen Castle Memorial Scholarships
These scholarships are in memory of Helen Castle, a dedicated and enthusiastic science teacher who tragically died during the Eyre Peninsula bushfires in 2005.
The scholarship is designed to assist country science teachers attend the SASTA conference and gain professional development to assist themselves and other country teachers to maintain a high standard of science teaching within country areas.
Two (2) scholarships of $500 plus a complimentary conference registration are awarded to enable country based science teachers to attend the SASTA Annual Conference.
Criteria
- The award is open to all teachers but preference will be given to those persons who hold SASTA Personal Membership or Joint Membership.
- The teacher is currently teaching in a country school ('country' for the purpose of this scholarship is defined as being an area with a postcode greater than 5200).
- The teacher is an inspiring and highly motivating teacher of science, who enthuses and engages students in scientific learning.
- The teacher has difficulty attending professional development due to the distance of their school from Adelaide.
Nominations close 10 March 2025
View the Helen Castle Memorial Scholarship recipients
Credit Union SA/SASTA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Award
These awards recognise teachers' contributions to the education of students in:
- Junior primary (R–2)
- Primary (3–6)
- Middle years (7–9)
- Senior secondary (10–12)
The award is presented to the winner of each category at a SASTA event (usually the Annual Conference).
Awards are only open to SASTA members (Personal, Joint or Corporate Membership only).
Members can nominate themselves.
Applications are to be submitted as a written document only.
Nominees must:
- Describe how their continued participation in professional development activities in science as a facilitator and/or participant has made an impact on their students and/or school communities.
- Give examples of how they promote student interest in science by providing an environment that stimulates student curiosity and interest in science.
- Provide evidence of developing and/or using innovative instructional material or technologies or new approaches to teaching science to achieve greater engagement or better outcomes.
- Demonstrate evidence of modelling best science teaching practice or mentoring other teachers within the school/work site with regard to best practice science teaching.
Word Count: The word limit for the application is 1000 words for the nominator.
Nominations close 10 March 2025
View the Credit Union SA / SASTA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Award winners
SASTA Honour Awards
Honour Awards are designed to recognise SASTA member’s contribution to SASTA. This contribution may be in a specific area or areas which contribute to the objectives aims of SASTA but may not be at a level to receive the SASTA Medal. The SASTA Medal is the highest honour awarded by SASTA. The next highest is the Honour Award. The areas could relate to the functions of the Board, one of the subcommittees or reference groups or representing SASTA.
Process for nominations
- Nominations for the Honour Award be sought from all SASTA subcommittees.
- That the Honour Award is a permanent award given each year at the Educators SA World Teachers Day event.
Criteria
- Financial member of SASTA for at least 5 years
- The person nominating the recipient must be a financial member
- The contribution of the nominee is on a voluntary basis. An honorarium would not exclude a person under this criteria
- The contribution of the person must be of significance as judged by the Board, that one or more of the objectives of SASTA or of a subcommittee or reference group have been advanced beyond reasonable expectations
Examples include but not restricted to:
- SASTA committees or reference groups
- Representing SASTA in a significant capacity
- Facilitating professional development
- Curriculum development
- Professional Mentoring
- Writing articles or books
View the SASTA Honour Award recipients
SASTA Recognition Award
An award for Significant Contribution by a Non SASTA Member is given on occasion to recognise the significant contribution to SASTA activities which were made when the recipient was a non-member of the association. This contribution may be in a specific area or areas which contribute to the objectives or aims of the association.
Criteria
- The nominee was non-financial member of SASTA at the time of the nomination.
- The nominee was not employed in science education or in a South Australian school at the time of their significant voluntary contribution.
- The nominee was a non-financial volunteer for SASTA for at least 10 years
- The person nominating the recipient must be a current financial member of SASTA.
- The contribution of the nominee was made on a voluntary basis. An honorarium would exclude a person under this criteria
- The contribution of the person must be of significance as judged by the SASTA Board, that is, that one or more of the objectives of SASTA have been supported beyond expectations
Examples of voluntary contribution include but are not restricted to:
- Assisting with the organisation and/or judging of Oliphant Science Awards
- Supporting or advising SASTA in a significant capacity
- Facilitating professional development
- Significantly contributing to SASTA books or articles.
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