2025 PDHPE Award winners
ACHPER NSW is pleased to announce winners and highly commended for our 2025 PDHPE Teaching Awards. As always, it’s fantastic to receive a range of nominations highlighting the outstanding work of PDHPE educators. Our winners receive ACHPER NSW Conference tickets and professional learning vouchers.
Early career PDHPE teacher
- Winner:
- Keely Millar, La Salle Academy
- Highly commended:
- Beau Wilkins, West Wallsend High School
Primary PDHPE teacher
- Winner: Emma Potter, Canberra Grammar School
- Highly commended:
- Paul Porceddu, Greenacre Christian College
Secondary PDHPE teacher
- Winner: Janice Dunk, Hennessy Catholic College
- Highly commended:
- Rebecca Hanson, Cerdon College Merrylands
- Siham Osman, Greenacre Christian College
- Tarni Witts, Picnic Point High School
Below are the winner profiles and highly commended nominations.
Early career teacher award
Keely Millar, La Salle Academy
In just her third year of teaching, Keely has become an invaluable member of her school community. She has taken on multiple roles with enthusiasm and professionalism, including Sports Coordinator, where she has expanded sporting opportunities and introduced an inclusive dance troupe. Keely’s commitment to professional growth has strengthened curriculum offerings across PDHPE, CAFS, and SLR, and her influence has led to the introduction of a Certificate III in Fitness in 2026. Beyond school, she actively plays hockey and coaches a junior netball team. Passionate and respected, Keely exemplifies dedication and innovation in advancing PDHPE.
Early career teacher award – Highly commended:
- Beau Wilkins, West Wallsend High School
Primary teacher award
Emma Potter, Canberra Grammar School
Emma Potter leads the PE team with exceptional clarity and purpose, seamlessly integrating the Australian Curriculum V9 with the PYP framework to deliver high-quality, cohesive learning experiences. Through her leadership, backward mapping has become a model for specialist teachers, ensuring intentional and consistent curriculum delivery. Her collaboration with the University of Canberra on action research has enhanced reflective practice and student engagement. Committed to inclusion, Emma implements differentiated instruction and respectfully embeds First Nations perspectives, fostering a safe, empowering environment where all students can thrive, develop physical literacy, and achieve personal excellence in physical education.
Primary teacher award: Highly commended
- Paul Porceddu, Greenacre Christian College
Secondary teacher award
Janice Dunk, Hennessy Catholic College
Janice is an outstanding leader in Health and Physical Education, driving excellence in teaching and learning across her school and the wider diocese. Through mentoring, collaborative planning, and professional learning, she builds staff capability and promotes evidence-based, student-centred pedagogy. Janice’s innovative use of digital tools enhances engagement, assessment, and feedback, while her leadership in implementing the school’s first Health and Movement Science cohort has set a new benchmark for curriculum design. Her strategic, reflective, and research-informed practice inspires colleagues and students alike, fostering a culture of professional growth, collaboration, and high-quality learning outcomes in PDHPE.
Secondary teacher award: Highly commended
- Rebecca Hanson, Cerdon College Merrylands
- Siham Osman, Greenacre Christian College
- Tarni Witts, Picnic Point High School