New Award Categories for 2025
Department of Education – Outstanding Career Practitioner Award (Individual Award)
In recognition of career practitioners in Victorian government schools who have demonstrated excellence in supporting students' career education and pathways planning.
This award will have a maximum of 2 award winners per biennial year.
Selection criteria
- Demonstrates high-quality practice in designing and implementing programs to effectively prepare students for further education, training, or employment.
- Uses innovative tools, resources, or methods to engage students in career exploration and pathways planning.
- Fosters strong networks within and beyond the school community to enhance career education programs.
- Demonstrates commitment to ongoing professional development and staying abreast of best practices in career education.
Eligibility criteria
- The nominee must be currently employed by and working as a career practitioner in a Victorian government school.
- The nominee must be a current Professional member of ACCE.
Who can nominate
- The nominee’s principal or an assistant principal.
- A member of the department’s Regional Pathways Workforce, with endorsement by the principal or an assistant principal.
- A career practitioner cannot self-nominate for this award.
Department of Education – Outstanding Provision of Career Education Award (School Award)
In recognition of a Victorian government school which has demonstrated commitment and drive to continuously improve career education delivery for all students in their school.
Selection criteria
- Highly engaged and committed school leadership team who seek to prioritise a whole-school approach to career education and integrate career education into key school plans and improvement processes.
- Evidence of an inclusive career education program that seeks to understand and address the needs of all students and provides access to a range of activities, including:
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- Career action planning
- My Career Insights
- Work-based learning activities
- Career counselling
- Demonstrates commitment to monitoring and assessing their career education program and implementing practices that lead to improved student outcomes
- Evidence of activities that support parents and carers to access and use career education information and understand pathway options.
- Establishes strong partnerships and seeks to engage key partners to improve their career education program.
Eligibility criteria
- The school must have at least one career practitioner who is a current Professional member of ACCE
Who can nominate
- The principal or an assistant principal of the nominated school.
- A member of the department’s Regional Pathways Workforce, with endorsement by the principal or an assistant principal.
ACCE Community Career Excellence Award
This award recognises ACCE members who are career practitioners working in non-school services and who demonstrate exceptional commitment and innovation in supporting career development through community-based programs and initiatives.
Eligible contexts include, but are not limited to:
- Community service-related programs (e.g., Brotherhood of St. Laurence).
- Skills and Job Centres
- Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLEN)
- Other community-focused career development organisations or initiatives.
Eligibility
- Be actively practising as a career professional or Associate in a non-school-based setting.
- Be a paid member of ACCE at the time of nomination
- Be involved in initiatives that contribute to community engagement, workforce readiness, or career advancement.
Nominators
Do not need to hold a career qualification but should be in a position to provide information about the quality of career services provided by the nominee.
This award will have a maximum of 2 award winners per biennial year.
ACCE Awards Categories & Nominations
Ruth Chapman Excellence in
Career Development Service Award
This award recognises excellence in career development service, leadership and advocacy over a sustained period of time (typically around ten years or more).
This annual award is offered in memory of Ruth Chapman, for her outstanding contribution to career education in Victoria. Ruth lived the principles of exemplary practice, service, and dedication to the career development of young people, her colleagues, and the wider community throughout her life.
Christine Jolly Scholarship
This scholarship recognises new career practitioners who have demonstrated innovation in their career practice.
This annual scholarship is offered in memory of Christine Jolly, a life member of the ACCE and a dedicated careers counsellor who established innovative careers programs in three secondary schools over a 30-year span.
The winner receives a $500 scholarship towards their continuing professional development, upskilling through CEAV Institute or ACCE events eg Conference, CDIP
David Osborne Regional Award
for Excellence in Career Practice
This award is open to all Regional Career Groups to acknowledge the dedicated service by their members to regions over the year.
This annual award acknowledges the outstanding contribution of Life Member, David Osborne to ACCE since 1980. His extensive involvement with schools, career practitioners, the Board of Studies and VTAC exemplifies his commitment to the field of career development.
Maryanne Mooney Perpetual Trophy
for Excellence in Careers Services
This Trophy is awarded to member schools with outstanding career education programs. It recognises the commitment they are making to acknowledge the importance of quality career development programs for young people.
It recognises the ability to build a strong career development culture within the school through a variety of programs, and by providing its students with the skills to navigate the ever-changing world of further training, education and work.
This award is presented in memory of Maryanne Mooney, ACCE Training Manager, who established the CEAV Training unit for the association.
Maryanne Mooney’s education career spanned several decades and states. She was highly regarded in a wide range of educational settings and this award has been developed to acknowledge the need to celebrate the outstanding careers services offered by our members.
This Trophy will travel each year to the winning school.
ACCE Fellowship Award
A Fellow of the ACCE is someone who has shown a long-term professional commitment to career education in Australia.
This is a new award that was presented for the first time in 2022.
The Founders Award
The Founders Award is given to community partners in recognition of their ongoing support of career education and development.
This award is presented in recognition of the ACCE Founders who worked tirelessly with industry, employer groups, higher education and TAFE to support pathways and transitions of young people from school into further study, training and employment.
Who can nominate?
A community partner is nominated by the ACCE Board.
Life Member Award
Life Membership is awarded to long-time practitioners who have made a significant contribution to the ACCE Committee of Management. Practitioners are nominated in recognition of the exemplary voluntary service they have provided the association through their work.
Recipients of Life Memberships are entitled to free ongoing membership.
Who can nominate?
A practitioner is nominated by the ACCE Board.
