Finalists in the Public Education Awards will be featured in a short film and invited to the awards ceremony. This page outlines what to expect as a finalist, including filming, the awards ceremony and prize money awarded to winners and finalists.

Visit entering the Public Education Awards to learn about the nomination process.

Announcement of finalists

The Public Education Awards Team will notify you in early September if you’ve been selected as a finalist. Finalists will also be announced via a Chief Executive message and press release.

Finalists will receive a detailed finalist information pack with key dates and expectations after they are notified.

Participation in a short promotional film

If selected as a finalist, you'll feature in a short film highlighting your contributions. The film will showcase how you’ve made a positive impact on the children and young people in our state’s public education system.

Filming will take place in September (weeks 8 to 10, term 3). Finalists are expected to be available during this period.

All films will be shown for the first time at the awards ceremony, which is held annually on the first Friday in November. They'll later be available on the department’s website. As a finalist, you’ll also receive a copy of the video on a USB at the ceremony.

Awards ceremony

The 2026 Public Education Awards ceremony will be held on Friday 27 November at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The Minister for Education, Training and Skills and the Chief Executive of the Department for Education will present the awards.

The awards ceremony will also be live streamed to enable colleagues, families and the broader community to celebrate the achievements of finalists and winners.

All winners and finalists will be recognised on the Public Education Awards honour roll.

Prize winners and finalists

All winners and finalists will receive prizes from the Department for Education and our sponsors.

Winners of each category receive $5000 and 2 finalists from each category receive $1000.

The prize money can be used for professional learning, community activities or resources that strengthen practice within a site or business area.

As a finalist you will be asked to complete a form outlining how prize money would be used if selected as a winner or finalist. This must be approved by your site leader or director before submission.

Funding will be transferred to your site or office at the beginning of the following calendar year.

Recipients are responsible for managing and acquitting the funds, including coordinating any associated professional learning, travel (domestic and international), and temporary relief staffing aligned to the approved use of funds.

For team winners and finalists, the funding will be managed by the site or office and shared across the team members listed on the nomination.

Provide feedback about the Public Education Awards

If you have feedback or suggestions about the Public Education Awards, please contact the Public Education Awards Team at PublicEducationAwards@sa.gov.au.

Each year, a review is conducted of the awards with the intent of making sure they’re as meaningful as possible.