2008 Australian Government National Awards for Quality Schooling
Nominations for the 2008 Australian Government National Awards for Quality Schooling 
closed 15 October 2007.
The Awards recognise and reward teachers, principals, and support staff who make an exceptional contribution to their school community and outcomes for students. The Awards help to build a better understanding and greater appreciation in the wider community of the work done in Australian schools, and are a way of sharing good ideas and practice among school communities across the country.
Further information about these awards, including a list of previous winners, is also available.
Primary Pre-service Teacher Awards for Excellence in Science Education
The Australian Government is offering 500 Awards valued at $2,000 each to exemplary students who complete in 2007 - as part of their primary, early childhood or middle years teacher education course - one or more science education units incorporating elements of the new Primary Connections: Linking Science with Literacy approach.
Australian Students Prize
International Olympiad Medal winners and year 12 students nominated by states and territories are eligible to win an Australian Students Prize. There are 500 prize winners each year who receive a certificate, and a cash prize of $2,000.
Scholarships for School Career Advisers
The Australian Government has made funding available annually, for the next four years, for the delivery of 54 scholarships each year, for school career advisers to participate in study or industry placements. These scholarships will support professional development for school career advisers by providing them with opportunities to gain skills, knowledge and experience through further study or industry placements.
Australian Training Awards
Australian Training Awards are the peak, national awards for vocational education and training, recognising innovation and excellence in the training sector. Eleven award categories are presented at the Australian Training Awards including six organisational categories and five student categories. The event also includes Industry Award presentations and an Innovative Business Award presented by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework.
Australian Vocational Student Prize
The Australian Vocational Student Prize (AVSP) recognises Year 12 students who demonstrate exceptional skill, commitment and achievement while undertaking an Australian School-based Apprenticeship or a Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools program. Students are nominated for the prize by their school principal.
Minister’s Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices
The Minister’s Awards for Excellence for Employers of Australian Apprentices recognise those employers who demonstrate commitment, innovation and outstanding achievement in the training of Australian Apprentices.
Minister’s Award for Excellence in Australian Apprenticeships Centre Administration
The Minister’s Award for Excellence in Australian Apprenticeships Professional Support Services recognises the outstanding achievements of an individual working for a Australian Apprenticeships Centre who has consistently demonstrated and maintained outstanding practices working with Australian Apprenticeships.
Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT)
The Australian Awards for University Teaching were established in 1997 by the Commonwealth Government to celebrate and reward excellence in university teaching. Australia’s 38 publicly funded universities (including the University of Notre Dame, Australia), Bond University, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education and the Australian Maritime College are eligible to nominate individual teachers, teams of teachers or institutional projects or initiatives in the relevant Award category. In 2005, the awards are being managed by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC). The format for 2005 will be the same as previous years but from 2006 a new awards program will be introduced as announced in Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future.
Excellence in Leadership in Indigenous Education Awards
Schools who sign up and become members of the Dare to Lead Coalition are invited to enter for the Excellence in Leadership in Indigenous Education Awards. 
The awards are an acknowledgment of outstanding work and leadership in Indigenous education and are awarded to schools that excel across all criteria. The criteria includes, being able to demonstrate improvements in targeted outcomes for Indigenous students of 10% improvement in Year 5 literacy and Year 12 completions, effective leadership and Indigenous community involvement.
Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
The Prime Minister's Prize for Science is an annual award to an individual, or jointly to up to four individuals, for an outstanding specific achievement in any area of science advancing human welfare or benefiting society. The prize comprises an embossed gold medallion, lapel pin and a grant of $300,000. The Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year and the Science Minister's Prize for Life Scientist of the Year are designed to recognise achievements of scientists at an early stage of their research careers and are awarded annually to scientists who are 35 years of age or younger. Each prize comprises a solid silver medallion, lapel pin and a grant of $50,000. Information on the eligibility criteria and the online nomination process is available on the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science website.
Prime Minister's Prizes for Science Teaching
The Prime Minister's Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools and Science Teaching in Secondary Schools recognise two teachers annually who have made an outstanding contribution to science education in Australia. Each Prize comprises a solid silver medallion, lapel pin and a grant of $50,000. Information on the eligibility criteria and the online nomination process is available on the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science website.
Endeavour Awards
The Endeavour Awards is an internationally competitive, merit-based program providing opportunities for citizens of the Asia-Pacific region to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia. Awards are also available for Australians to do the same abroad. A smaller number of awards are available for participants from Europe and the Americas.
The Endeavour Awards provide individuals with a unique opportunity to take the next step in their academic or professional career.
The General Sir John Monash Foundation was established in December 2001 to establish Australia's own prestigious awards for postgraduate students. Awards are currently available to Australians wishing to undertake postgraduate study abroad. Further information about the General Sir John Monash Postgraduate Student awards.
Australian-American Fulbright Commission (AAFC)
The Fulbright Exchange Program between Australia and the US began in 1949 under the auspices of the United States Educational Foundation in Australia. Aimed at promoting mutual understanding through international educational exchange, it currently operates between the U.S. and 150 other countries. Further information about the fulbright awards.