Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (09:58): I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Alice Hu at Elevation Secondary College for being a recipient of the Victorian Education Excellence Awards in the Outstanding Early Career Secondary Teacher category.

Alice has applied her expertise in the field of mathematics and created a learning environment focused on high achievement by developing an individualised experience for students of all abilities depending on their specific needs.

Her teaching style in delivering a fully differentiated learning environment for each individual has improved the overall results for students in the field of mathematics.

Before coming to Elevation Secondary College, Alice was focused on improving women’s access to STEM, particularly mathematics, and she brought this passion with her to Craigieburn. Engaging the mathematics department at the University of Melbourne to run workshops at the school, Alice worked with teachers to identify mathematics potential in female students. Over 40 students attended these voluntary workshops, with years 7 to 9 girls now demonstrating higher mastery levels in maths.

These education excellence awards recognise the inspirational work of teachers in our government schools who have gone above and beyond to help their students achieve their very best. Elevation Secondary is an outstanding school in Craigieburn, opened by this government in 2020, and teachers like Alice ensure that is the case.

Congratulations again to Alice for all the work she has done to inspire students and to improve students’ mathematical skills at Elevation Secondary College. You have certainly done an outstanding job in demonstrating why Victoria is the Education State.