News & Special Promotions
Motivate and inspire your students to think about how they can have a positive impact on the community. Our News and Special Promotions can help you elevate the Aussie of the Month program in your school.
ACT Local Hero drops in on school to announce the Aussie of the Month
Canberra Grammar School was recently visited by Luke Ferguson, 2022 ACT Local Hero to present the Aussie of the Month certificate, badge and a Pilot Pen gift to recipient Mairead.
Mairead and her school mates were thrilled to meet Luke when he announced the Aussie of the Month and share his inspiring message of inclusion and how he set up Daydream Machine, a music school that runs dynamic programs for neurodiverse young people - Cool Kids Doing Cool Stuff! Students were even treated to a performance from Daydream Machine member, Grace Flanagan aka Charlie Grace, who sang her original song 'Stuck in My Dreams'!
His story of active citizenship and the power of community building, inspired students to make a difference in their own community both in and beyond the school gates.
Lauren Dunn, Director of Students at Canberra Grammar School said that the Aussie of the Month program and Luke’s visit as an Australian of the Year award alumni was an opportunity for kids to be inspired by a powerful role model.
“The kids absolutely loved the assembly today and I think Luke’s message had a massive impact. There were kids in the audience that came out of their shell for the first time when Luke and Grace shared their message.”
Aussie of the Month recognises and celebrates personal endeavour, achievement and contribution to community and reflects the values we share as Australians – such as a fair go, mateship, respect and inclusion.
Schools now have the opportunity to have a Local Hero virtually “visit” the school to present each monthly award through downloading a new video each month. Schools keen to take advantage of this initiative and hear from Australian of the Year Alumni need to sign up to the Aussie of the Month program at aussieofthemonth.org.au
Primary schools can register for the Aussie of the Month program for free at any time during the year. Once registered, schools are provided with certificates, lapel pins and Pilot Pen stationery items for monthly presentations within their school and online guidelines and over-the-phone support on how to run the program in their school.
The program is delivered in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs and is supported by Pilot Pen Australia.
Click here to enquire about Australian of the Year Alumni visits.
Australian of the Year Awards Recipients support primary school kids kicking goals in communities
Australian of the Year Awards Alumni are cheering on primary school students who are being recognised in ‘Aussie of the Month’, a program celebrating community contribution and active citizenship in a similar way to the prestigious Australian of the Year Awards.
Aussie of the Month recognises and celebrates personal endeavour, achievement and contribution to community and reflects the values we share as Australians – such as a fair go, respect and inclusion.
The program is free for primary schools, whereby students and teachers nominate a student each month for their achievements or contributions. At the school’s regular assembly, a selected student is presented with an Aussie of the Month certificate.
Now, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the highly popular Local Hero category of the Australian of the Year Awards, students can also hear from inspiring Local Hero Award recipients at these presentation assemblies.
Through online video presentations, Local Hero Alumni such as Short Back & Sidewalks founder Craig Hollywood, geoscientist Suzy Urbaniak, police officer Erica Gibson, social entrepreneur Juliette Wright and No One Left Behind founder and fundraiser, Rebecca Forrest are congratulating recipients and inspiring students to be active citizens.
As the 2023 school year commences, it is anticipated many schools will be keen to ride the wave of the recently announced 2023 Australian of the Year Awards and join the program to access the Local Hero category recipients.
In order to support an influx of new schools joining almost 1,400 highly-engaged schools already signed up, it is anticipated the newly offered virtual school visits will become the preference because, no matter where schools are based, or how remote or regional, Australia’s Local Heroes are able to visit all around Australia.
Click here to enquire about Australian of the Year Alumni visits.