2025 recipients
Our 2025 Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence recipients
Living Our Values
| Grampians Correction Education Team | Federation TAFE |
| This award recognises those who have gone above and beyond to exemplify our Living Values of Inclusion, Innovation, Excellence, Empowerment and Collaboration. | |
Leadership and Transformational Change
| Barwon South West Region Corrections Education Team | Federation TAFE |
| This award recognises and rewards transformational leadership that shows our values in action, inspires our students and partners and empowers our staff. | |
Excellence in Inclusion
| Sharon Bartholomew | Federation TAFE |
| This award recognises those who have contributed through leadership, programs, activities or initiatives that support equity and foster diversity and inclusion within Federation University and/or the wider community. | |
Excellence in Innovation
| Electronic Medical Records Team | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| This award recognises those that demonstrate innovation and entrepreneurialism to deliver the university’s strategy, e.g., in delivering new growth opportunities or innovative offerings, working creatively and/or improving efficiency or through successful project implementation. | |
Excellence in Community Engagement and Impact
| Fiona Hogan | Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability |
| With a proud history of engaging with its multiple communities and enriching the student experience, the University remains committed to playing an active role in advancing and championing environmental, social and economic development in its communities. This award recognises staff who clearly demonstrate impact in community engagement. | |
Research Excellence
| Associate Professor Gayan Kahandawa Appuhamillage | Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability |
| This award recognises staff members who have demonstrated exceptional and sustained research contributions in advancing knowledge and research outcomes. | |
Research Excellence (Early Career)
| Dr Ishanka Weerasekara | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| This award recognises staff members who have demonstrated exceptional and sustained research contributions in advancing knowledge and research outcomes. | |
Vocational Teaching Excellence
| Braddon Watson | Federation TAFE |
| This award celebrates the diverse and outstanding contribution to vocational learning and the quality of the student experience. | |
Enhancing the Student Experience
| Ebony-Rose Nudelman | Chief Learner Experience Office |
| This award recognises the outstanding contribution made to enhance the quality of the student experience beyond the formal teaching environment. | |
Excellence in Delivering the Co-op Model
| Healthcare Industries Team | Federation TAFE |
| This award recognises those who demonstrate excellence in cross-university and industry collaboration to deliver our Co-Op model. For example, working together to adapt, evolve and address complex challenges, building strong cross-functional relationships or communities of practice across the organisation to enable the transformation to Co-Op. | |
Excellence in Industry Engagement and Impact
| Accenture Team | |
| This award recognises the diverse contributions that individuals or teams make to facilitate engagement with industry that makes a real-world impact. | |
Excellence in Industry Engagement and Impact (Higher Education)
| Engagement Team | Global, Engagement and Quality Office |
| This award recognises the diverse contributions that individuals or teams make to facilitate engagement with industry that makes a real-world impact. | |
Excellence in Industry Engagement and Impact (VET)
| Ballarat Tech School | Federation TAFE |
| This award recognises the diverse contributions that individuals or teams make to facilitate engagement with industry that makes a real-world impact. | |
Special Commendation recipients
Enhancing Student Experience
| Physiotherapy Discipline | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| This award recognises the outstanding contribution made to enhance the quality of the student experience beyond the formal teaching environment. | |
Excellence in Industry Engagement and Impact (Higher Education)
| Jarrad Keddie | Global, Engagement and Quality Office |
| This award recognises the diverse contributions that individuals or teams make to facilitate engagement with industry that makes a real-world impact. | |
Research Excellence (Early Career Researcher)
| Dr Sheikh Alif | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| This award recognises staff members who have demonstrated exceptional and sustained research contributions in advancing knowledge and research outcomes. | |
Vocational Teaching Excellence
| Rachael Barclay | Federation TAFE |
| This award celebrates the diverse and outstanding contribution to vocational learning and the quality of the student experience. | |