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Innovative Step Up Into Teaching program a finalist in national awards

Australian Catholic University's innovative Step Up into Teaching (SUIT) program is a finalist in Universities Australia's prestigious 2025 Shaping Australia Awards.

The SUIT program gives students in Year 11 and 12 an early start to a teaching degree helping to boost the teaching pipeline and support first-in-family, low-SES, and First Nations students to successfully study at a tertiary level.

SUIT national coordinator Jamie Sherson said having the program recognised in The Future Builder Award category was an honour.

"This nomination celebrates the dedication of our staff, partner dioceses, and schools who share a common vision to create meaningful pathways into teaching for students who may not have otherwise seen university as within their reach," he said.

"By engaging senior secondary students from diverse backgrounds and communities in university-level learning, the program builds confidence, capability, and belonging.

"These students are not only future teachers, but they are also future leaders who will inspire the next generation in their own communities."

ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis congratulated Mr Sherson and ACU Associate Professor Alison Owens on the award nomination.

"This innovative program aligns with ACU's mission to break down barriers to higher education and build the teaching workforce by supporting the next generation of educators," he said.

The SUIT program, which operates at ACU's Strathfield Campus and recently expanded to the university's Brisbane Campus, celebrated a record cohort of graduates earlier this year following a 50 per cent increase in enrolments over the past two years.

Graduates, who complete two tertiary level units during the spring and summer school holidays, receive conditional entry into an ACU teaching degree once they finish Year 12, as well as prior recognition for their studies.

There are two winners in each of the Shaping Australia Awards categories - one selected by a panel of eminent Australians and another selected by the Australian public.

People's Choice winners will be announced at the Universities Australia Gala Dinner at Parliament House in Canberra on February 25. Voting is open until January 19.

Mr Sherson said being a finalist in The Future Builder Award category was a meaningful recognition of the strength of collaboration and community.

"It highlights the potential of partnerships between universities, schools, and dioceses in supporting equity and opportunity in education," he said.

"Most importantly, it affirms the aspirations of our SUIT students and shows them that their voices, experiences, and futures matter.

"It's deeply rewarding to see the difference this program is making in young people's lives."

To vote for ACU's SUIT program go to shapingaustraliaawards.com.au