Teach For Australia educators recognised at 2026 ACEL Tasmania Awards

MEDIA RELEASE

Teach For Australia educators recognised at 2026 ACEL Tasmania Awards

18 September 2026

Teach For Australia congratulates its Tasmanian educators on being recognised at the 2026 Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) Tasmania Awards. These annual awards celebrate educational leaders who have made a significant contribution to the understanding and practice of educational leadership across the state.

This year, Teach For Australia teacher Ronan Douglas received the Teacher Leadership Award which recognises exemplary teaching practice. Gemma Broderick has been awarded the Early Career Teacher Leadership Award, which provides teachers who are in the early stages of their career, generally in their first five years, with recognition for their excellent contribution to education in Tasmania.

Hellyer College science teacher Ronan Douglas (Cohort 2023) has worked to drive student engagement, particularly through his work as the student voice as co-coordinator of the Year 11/12 Leadership Team. In 2025 Ronan was also recognised as the recipient of the Public Education Foundation’s Teachers Health Early Career Scholarship.

Jordan River Learning Federation School STEM, and social-emotional learning teacher Gemma Broderick (Cohort 2023), has demonstrated her leadership capabilities by developing and implementing a standalone elective subject focused on life skills and social-emotional learning for her students.

Teach For Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Edwina Dohle congratulated Ronan and Gemma on their awards.

This acknowledgement highlights the important role teachers can play in driving positive change in their schools and communities, particularly early in their careers.

“These awards are a wonderful recognition of the impact our Associates and Alumni are having in Tasmanian schools. We are incredibly proud of Ronan and Gemma and the broader Teach For Australia network for the leadership they demonstrate in their classrooms and communities.”

“We know that attracting, developing and retaining high-quality teachers and leaders in disadvantaged schools remains one of the most effective levers available to improve educational attainment and life outcomes for young Australians.”

Teach For Australia supports talented professionals and graduates to become teachers through an employment-based pathway, combining a Master of Teaching with classroom experience and ongoing professional development. Its growing network of Associates and Alumni includes educators working across Tasmania and Australia.

Media contact:
Hannah Purdy: 0438 003 838 / hannah.purdy@teachforaustralia.org