The awards are open to all current Victorian Year 11 and 12 international school students, government and non-government schools and their homestay families.
To enter, click here - 2025 Victorian Global Learning Awards (e-award.com.au).
Award categories
There are eleven award categories. Eight awards are open to international students in Years 11 and 12. The International Student of the Year – Ambassador Award is open only to Year 12 international students. There is also one award for a non-government school and one award for a homestay family.
School and Homestay Awards
Excellence in Global Learning Award (Non-government school)
The Excellence in Global Learning Award recognises non-government schools who effectively embed internationalisation through delivery of a robust International Student Program and/or global learning programs such as sister schools, overseas teacher and student learning experiences, cultural immersion programs and integration of internationalisation into the curriculum. The Excellence in Global Learning Award is a whole school award to enable recognition and promotion of global learning programs and excellence across Victoria.
Please note that the Excellence in Global Learning Award (government schools) is now part of the Victorian Education Excellence Awards and is called the Dr Lawrie Shears Outstanding Global Teaching and Learning Award.
Homestay Family of the Year
The Homestay Family of the Year Award recognises the crucial role that homestay families play in supporting international students by providing the support and safety of a real family throughout their time in our schools. The Homestay Family of the Year Award enables schools and international students to recognise homestay families who go the extra mile through nomination for the award.
Student Awards
Academic Excellence Award
The award is presented to a Year 12 international student who has achieved the highest ATAR score in VCE or IB equivalent, and to a Year 11 international student who has obtained the highest level of achievement in all subjects. Students must also demonstrate active participation in and positive contribution to the school community.
Note: the nominations portal will remain open until after the release of academic results to allow applicants to submit their final scores.
Arts Achievement Award (Visual / Performing Arts Categories)
One international student from Year 11 and one from Year 12 will receive the Arts Achievement (Visual Arts) Award. In addition, one international student from Year 11 and one from Year 12 will receive the Arts Achievement (Performing Arts) Award. This could be evidenced by achievements such as exceptional contribution to and/or participation in the arts. This includes visual and performing arts work as defined in relevant VCE/IB subjects.
Community Engagement Award
One international student from Year 11 and one from Year 12 will receive this award which recognises participation in activities and groups which have a positive impact on the school and the wider community, including environmental sustainability. This could be evidenced by active involvement in community groups, charities or similar organisations.
Global Citizenship Award
One international student from Year 11 and one from Year 12 will receive this award which recognises outstanding commitment to fostering integration between local and international students, as well as a high level of intercultural competency and understanding of global issues.
Health and Sports Achievement Award
One international student from Year 11 and one from Year 12 will receive this award which recognises outstanding achievement in the health, health science and/or physical education subjects. This could also include sport via membership of local, regional, state or national sporting teams.
Innovation Award
One international student from Year 11 and one from Year 12 will receive this award, which recognises outstanding innovation. This award celebrates achievements in innovation-related subjects and extracurricular activities including science, technology, engineering, maths (STEM), environment, health and design.
Resilience Award
One international student from Year 11 and one from Year 12 will receive this award which recognises outstanding abilities to overcome obstacles and challenges to achieve in academic and / or non-academic fields. This could be evidenced by an understanding of resilience and strategies implemented to overcome challenges.
Student Leadership Award
One international student from Year 11 and one from Year 12 will receive this award which recognises outstanding leadership. This could be evidenced by achievements such as Student Representative Council, membership of School Council or leadership of international student groups.
International Student of the Year - Ambassador Award
No separate application is required for this award which is presented to a Year 12 international student, selected from the top-performing finalists for the other seven international student awards. The award recipient will have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, the ability to represent Victorian schools, and leadership through engaging with both the school and wider community.
Key dates
The awards program allows you to recognise your outstanding international students and homestay families, and showcase your school's educational offering by highlighting global learning achievements.
| Nominations open | 26 August 2024 |
| Nominations close | 18 October 2024 (all except Academic Excellence: 20 Dec 2024) |
| Judging commences | 30 October 2024 |
| Notification of all finalists | 28 February 2025 |
| Filming - Hall of Fame videos | March - April 2025 |
| Presentation ceremony | June 2025 |
* Please note, these dates are subject to review.
Why enter?
The awards program allows you to recognise your outstanding international students and homestay families, and showcase your school's educational offering by highlighting global learning and engagement achievements. The benefits of being involved include:
- rewarding your top international students
- recognising and driving quality amongst your homestay families
- demonstrating the quality of your school in equipping students with a global education
- marketing and raising awareness of your school professionally produced promotional material.
Who can be nominated?
International students
International students (standard, full-fee dependant and study abroad students) in Years 11 and 12 in Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools can be nominated for the seven student awards.
The following students are not eligible for nomination:
- dependants of permanent residents
- students under specialist entrance visas whose status confers a tuition fee exemption (i.e. children of post-graduate research students and visiting academics).
Homestay families
Formally registered households hosting standard or study abroad international students currently enrolled directly in a Victorian government school, or CRICOS-registered Catholic or independent school can be nominated for the Homestay Family of the Year Award.
Schools
Non-government schools may nominate themselves for the Excellence in Global Learning Award.
While it is expected that most schools nominating in this category would be delivering an International Student Program under CRICOS registration, nominations are not limited to these schools. Accordingly, schools can be nominated for any number of global learning and engagement programs, including sister schools, overseas learning programs, teacher and principal professional development, and incorporating the intercultural capability of the Victorian Curriculum.
Please note that the Excellence in Global Learning Award (government schools) is now part of the Victorian Education Excellence Awards and is called the Dr Lawrie Shears Outstanding Global Teaching and Learning Award. Nominations for this award will open in early 2023.
Conditions of entry
To be considered valid, entries must be completed in full using the online nomination form.
School principals are responsible for ensuring that they nominate in the correct category. Judges do not have the discretion to re-assign applications to another category.
Nomination materials become the property of the department and will not be returned at the conclusion of the judging process.
Photographs or video materials presented as a part of nominations should be of high resolution or of broadcast standard.
School principals are responsible for ensuring that nominated students, school staff and homestay families (depending on award category) sign the consent form in relation to privacy, release of information and media requirements, prior to submitting nomination forms.
How to enter?
Only school principals or their delegate can submit nominations via the Online Nominations Portal (when available) following the steps outlined below. Nomination for the International Student of the Year – Ambassador Award category is not required, as year 12 student nominees for the other seven student awards automatically become nominees for this award. Schools may submit one application per student.
When available, visit the Online Nominations Portal to lodge your application and follow the below steps,.
Step 1: Follow the instructions to create a school account.
Step 2: Select the category to which you wish to nominate your student, school or homestay family
Step 3: Read the nomination conditions, selection criteria and note the supporting documentation required
Step 4: Complete the online nomination form
Step 5: Upload material to support nominations. All categories require the following depending on the award category nomination:
- Student Awards:
- student statement, written by the student
- principal’s supporting statement.
- Excellence in Global Learning Award (Non-government schools):
- teacher's supporting statement, outlining internationalising education and global learning and engagement activities undertaken by the school
- principal’s supporting statement, highlighting the links between internationalising activities and overarching school plans.
- Homestay Family of the Year Award:
- supporting statement endorsed by international students accommodated in the homestay household
- principal's / international student coordinator's supporting statement.
Refer to above selection criteria for additional requirements for each award category.
There will be an electronic acknowledgement of all nominations. Once all nominations have been received and the judging process has been completed by the judging panel all applicants will be notified of their application's outcome. Only finalists will be invited to attend the presentation ceremony.
The judging panel will not consider nominations submitted after the close of the nomination period.
