The awards profile and recognise the work and life of Muriel Matters (1877 to 1969), a South-Australian born suffragist, educator and social reformer who made a difference in the early 20th century through her work and activism to further the rights and freedoms of women, promote universal access to education and have careers open to talent.

In recognition of the change role Muriel played in societies around the world, the Muriel Matters Awards aim to identify and recognise young people in our schools who show the qualities of self-initiative, determination to make a difference despite personal challenges and a commitment to make the world a better place for all.

2023 Muriel Matters Awards information

The Muriel Matters Awards 2023 are being conducted by the Minister for Education, Training and Skills and the Speaker of the South Australian Parliament House of Assembly.

The awards are presented annually. Each school can nominate 1 secondary student for the Muriel Matters Awards by 22 September 2023.

Eligibility

• The awards are available to all schools in South Australia with secondary enrolments.
• The awards are open to all secondary students from years 7 to 12.
• One Muriel Matters awardee can be awarded per school.
• A student can only be awarded a Muriel Matters Award once during their schooling.

Prizes

Awardees will receive a Muriel Matters Award medallion and a copy of Collette Snowden’s monograph, ‘Muriel Matters – That Daring Australian Girl’.

The medallions have been funded by the House of Assembly, Parliament of South Australia and the books donated by the Muriel Matters Society.

Selection and award presentation responsibilities

• The selection of the awardees is a school-based process, using the selection criteria and statement on this page.
• Upon receipt of the school nominations, the Curriculum Programs Directorate of the Department for Education will arrange engraving and the distribution of medallions and books to schools during November 2023.
• Schools are responsible for presenting the awards during end of year assemblies or at special ceremonies as determined by the school.

Award selection criteria and statement

The nominated student must demonstrate aspects of the following criteria:

• self-starting and shows initiative beyond school arranged activities
• involved in democratic processes to promote change and make a difference
• taken action of some type
• exhibited in their action a degree of selflessness and personal challenge.

These criteria are embodied in the selection criteria statement for the award that states:

Student exhibiting self-initiative in promoting democratic discussion and activity in the community.

Make a nomination

Your school must submit your Muriel Matters Award student nomination online. Nominations close at 5pm on Friday 22 September 2023.

Supporting materials for schools

All schools with secondary enrolments will receive information and publicity materials in July 2023. These materials provide information about the awards and the nomination process.

2023 materials distributed to schools:

• letter to schools about the awards (PDF 193 KB)
• paper-based nomination form (PDF 259 KB)
• promotional poster (PDF 739 KB) .

Background of the awards

The Muriel Matters Awards program was established in 2021. The award program is for schools with secondary enrolments and is conducted under the guidance of the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the Minister for Education. The awards have been developed to acknowledge the trail blazing work and life of Muriel Matters, the South Australian-born suffragist, educator and social reformer.

The Muriel Matters Awards provides the opportunity for young South Australians to be recognised for their contribution through the use of democratic processes to take some form of action in their school or broader community. 
The awards are to be conducted annually for Department for Education, Catholic Education and Independent schools and managed by the Department for Education.