Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize – teacher chaperones

The Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize 2025 will be awarded to 12 students. These students will receive a fully funded 11-day overseas study tour connecting young Victorians with the legend and spirit of Anzac.

About the teacher chaperone role

Victorian secondary teachers are invited to apply for the volunteer teacher chaperone role. Teacher chaperones will travel with the successful students on the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize overseas study tour in 2025 to Türkiye.

The Department will select 3 teacher chaperones to take part in the study tour and a stand by teacher chaperone who will be on call to join the study tour at any time while overseas.

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing covers all costs.

We encourage all eligible teachers to apply.

Apply now.(opens in a new window)

Note: To be selected, you do not need to be accompanying a student from your own school on the study tour.

Teacher chaperone roles and responsibilities

Teacher chaperones supervise and support student participants during the study tour.

Teacher chaperone roles and responsibilities include:

supervising student participants throughout the tour, including overnight.
always being aware of the location of student participants.
managing pastoral care for student participants.
applying an inclusive approach to ensure all student participants are valued and supported.
recognising the diverse backgrounds, needs, and circumstances of student participants.
helping to ensure the safety and wellbeing of student participants.
working collaboratively with the tour manager.
understanding the study tour Risk Register and following the emergency management plans.
supporting the tour manager, the local tour providers, and the department to deliver a study tour for students that is:
- safe
- supported
- educational
- fun
- following the Teacher Chaperone Code of Conduct.

Applications

To apply you must:

Respond to the submission questions in the online application form via the Grants Gateway platform.
Provide a signed Premier's Prize 2025 teacher school endorsement form.

Applications are now open and close 5 pm 31 March 2025.

Apply now.(opens in a new window)

You must submit your application online via the Grants Gateway portal.
To complete the application form, register or login to the Grants Gateway https://grantsgateway.dffh.vic.gov.au.
To submit your application, you need to:
- answer questions
- provide a short biography.
Please contact us if you’re having problems:
- accessing the Grants Gateway Portal
- uploading your application documents.
We will work with you to resolve any technical issues before the application closing date and time.
Email the Office for Veterans via the Spirit of Anzac Prize inbox soap@dffh.vic.gov.au.
Secondary teachers can apply who:
- are currently registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)
- have approval from their principal or principal delegate on:
  - time release for the duration of the study tour
  - any associated in-school-time activities
- are available to attend online briefings via Microsoft Teams
- are available to attend in person 3 events in Melbourne during school hours, including:
  - an award presentation (2 to 3 hours) for successful students
  - a pre-tour travel, safety and cultural briefing (half-day)
  - after the study tour – a feedback session (2 to 3 hours)
- have:
  - an Australian or alternative international passport valid for 6 months at travel time
  - if not, you must agree to obtain an Australian or alternative passport within the required timeframe
You must attach the completed and signed Teacher Chaperone School Endorsement Form to your application.
The Victorian Government embraces diversity and encourages applications from:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- people living with disability
- LGBTIQA+ people
- people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
To submit your application, you need to:
- answer questions
- provide a short biography.
Application questions (up to 90 points)
Your application will include responses to the following questions:
Why are you interested in volunteering as a teacher chaperone on the Premier's Spirit of Anzac Prize overseas study tour in 2025?
In your response, please consider the following questions:
1. Do you have a passion for history and supporting student learning on Australia’s wartime and peacekeeping history?
2. Do you personally relate to the Spirit of Anzac? Are you connected with veterans in your family or community?
3. What values would you bring to the role of teacher chaperone? How would these contribute to the success of the study tour?
4. What would it mean for you to be selected as a teacher chaperone for the study tour? What do you think you would gain or learn from this experience?
5. What skills and experience would you bring to the role of teacher chaperone? How would you help to deliver a study tour for students that is:
  - safe
  - supported
  - educational
  - fun?
In your response, please consider the following questions:
- Do you have experience supervising similar student activities? For example:
  - study tours
  - exchange programs
  - camps
  - excursions.
- Can you tell us how you resolved a challenging situation in an out-of-school environment?
- What strategies would you use to encourage active student engagement and learning during the study tour?
- How would you support student wellbeing and participation on the study tour?
In your response, consider the following questions:
- What is your experience in supporting the diverse needs of students?
- How would you assist a student who is dealing with:
  - homesickness
  - psychological distress
  - physical illness?
- What steps would you take to ensure that all students take part in and benefit from the study tour?
Teacher biography (up to 10 points)
We require a short biography of between 100 to 200 words.
Note: If we select you for the role of teacher chaperone, we will include your biography in the information provided to study tour participants.

How we assess applications

Criterion	Description	Score
Criterion 1: Motivation (30%)	The response outlines why the applicant is interested in volunteering as a teacher chaperone on the Premier's Spirit of Anzac Prize overseas study tour in 2025.	Score out of 30 Applicant has demonstrated: to a strong extent 25+ to a reasonable extent 18–24 to a moderate extent 10–17 to a basic extent 2–9.
Criterion 2: Skills and experience (30%)	The response outlines the applicant’s skills, experience and capacity to help deliver a study tour for students that is: safe supported educational fun.	Score out of 30 Applicant has demonstrated: to a strong extent 25+ to a reasonable extent 18–24 to a moderate extent 10–17 to a basic extent 2 –9.
Criterion 3: Wellbeing and participation (30%)	The response outlines strategies to support student: diversity wellbeing participation.	Score out of 30 Applicant has demonstrated: to a strong extent 25+ to a reasonable extent 18–24 to a moderate extent 10–17 to a basic extent 2–9.
Criterion 4: Teacher biography (10%)	A short biography of between 100 and 200 words is included.	Score out of 10 Applicant has demonstrated: to a strong extend 8+ to a reasonable extent 6–7 to a moderate extent 4–5 to a basic extent 2–3.