These awards provide the community with the opportunity to encourage, recognise, honour and reward the work of dedicated, talented, innovative and inspiring teachers. These teachers’ efforts often go unrecognised, but in this honours program, it's the teachers who go to the top of the class.

The Awards are the only independent national awards for teachers in Australia based on nomination by parents and students.

NEiTA is a community initiative of the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG). ASG is Australia's leading friendly society specialising in education benefits.

NEiTA was established to promote the teaching profession. The general objects of NEiTA are to promote and encourage excellence in teaching of children and young adults, and in particular to:

1. identify and recognise inspirational teachers who connect with their students and produce exceptional outcomes at a local, state or systems level;
   

2. raise community confidence in the teaching profession through the promotion of exemplary representatives of effective teaching initiatives;
   

3. facilitate networking of teachers and the interchange of information about methods and successful teaching strategies;
   

4. provide grants and award prizes to teachers who have demonstrated a particularly high level of dedication, innovation and effective teaching practices;
   

5. promote recognition of early childhood education and the significant contribution of early learning to the development of confident lifelong learners;
   

6. advocate, on behalf of teachers and the community, government recognition of the teaching profession and its vital contribution to the nation’s future;
   

7. encourage and support increased professional development of early childhood, primary and secondary teachers;
   

8. encourage interaction between early childhood education centres, schools, and their local communities;
   

9. encourage students to consider teaching as an important and worthwhile career choice.

The Patron of NEiTA is Sir Gustav Nossall, noted scientist and Australian of the Year 2000. The Board of Trustees is chaired by Mr Terry O'Connell. The Vice-Chairman is Dr Arnold Bonnet. The Advisory Council includes representatives from educational organisations and school communities.

• Contact Details:
  
  NEiTA Secretariat
  ASG Centre
  23-35 Hanover Street
  Oakleigh  Victoria  3166
  
  Telephone (03) 9276 7768 or 1800 624 487
  Fax: (03) 9276 7798
  
  Email: neita@asg.com.au