July 2011     Hundreds of Australia’s most outstanding secondary school graduates have been awarded the Australian Student Prize in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the 2010 school year, both in academic and vocational studies.

“These students represent some of the best and brightest young minds in the country, and I’m delighted to recognise their achievements,” Mr Garrett said.  “The Australian Government promotes excellence in our schools, and the winners of the Australian Student Prize are of the highest academic calibre.  I am sure they will continue their fantastic record of achievement in whatever they choose to do next.”

The Australian Student Prize is awarded annually to 500 young Australians in recognition of their excellence in academic achievements based on Year 12 results from the previous year. Winners are nominated by their state or territory education authorities.

The Prize was also awarded to medal winners of the 2010 Australian Mathematics and Science Olympiad teams who won medals in maths, informatics, physics, chemistry and biology. 

Peter Garrett also congratulated the 410 winners of the Australian Vocational Student Prize and 17 winners of the Prime Minister’s Award.  More than 400 students across Australia have been recognised in the nation’s top vocational education and skills award for schools.

“The Vocational Prize recognises Year 12 students who have demonstrated exceptional skill, commitment and achievement while undertaking a Vocational Education and Training in Schools program or an Australian School-based Apprenticeship,” Mr Garrett said.

The Prime Minister’s Award for Skills Excellence in School provides further recognition for the most outstanding Vocational Prize recipients.  Winners of the Prime Minister’s Award are selected from the categories of highest achieving student in each state and territory, the highest achieving Indigenous student, and the highest achieving student in each industry group.

“All of these students have gained a better understanding of the workplace, and have developed industry-specific skills which will help them follow their chosen career,”Mr. Garrett said.

All the award winners receive $2,000 and a certificate recognising their achievement.

A full list of 2010 Australian Prize Winners is available at www.deewr.gov.au/asp.

From information provided by the Minister for School Education, July 6-7, 2011.

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