The 2026 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science - Science Teaching Prizes

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are Australia’s most prestigious and highly regarded awards for demonstrated achievements in:

• scientific research and research-based innovation
• the practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems
• excellence in science teaching.

The prizes will award up to $1.4 million in total each year for achievements across 3 prize categories:

• the Science Prizes
• the Science Teaching Prizes
• the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems Prize.

The Science Teaching Prizes recognise Australian science teachers for excellence in science teaching. 

We welcome nominations of diverse candidates and those from a range of backgrounds and geographical regions.

There are 2 science teaching prizes:

• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools ($250,000)
• Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools ($250,000).

Each prize recipient receives a medallion, lapel pin, prize money as described above and an award certificate. We may recognise highly ranked nominees through the awarding of highly commended certificates.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for a Science Teaching Prize, a nominee must:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia
• have undertaken their teaching achievement for which they are nominated in Australia
• not be self-nominated
• not be nominated in more than one prize category. Where a nominee is nominated in more than one category, we will ask the nominee to select a single nomination to pursue. This will occur at Stage 1
• be a full-time or part-time registered teacher at a primary or secondary school listed on the Australian Schools List
• be active in teaching science, technology, engineering or mathematics in the classroom at the time of their nomination. Teachers on parental leave at the time of nomination, who intend to return to teaching, are eligible.

Nominees do not need to be a member of a professional association or have received any prior award to be eligible.