Frances Gentle Award for Innovations in Professional Learning (Emerging Professional Category and Established Professional Category)
The Frances Gentle Award for Innovations in Professional Learning recognises SPEVI's belief that children with vision impairment (VI) have the right to be taught and supported by qualified teachers who possess the disability-specific knowledge and skills to enable each child to reach their optimum potential. One of SPEVI’s aims is to encourage the highest standards in education for students with vision impairment by promoting research and professional training for general and specialist teachers. This aim is reflected in Standard 6, “Engage in professional learning”, of the AITSL Professional Standards for Teachers and the SPEVI Professional Standards Elaborations for Specialist Teachers (Vision Impairment).
For more information, please email the SPEVI Secretary at spevisecretary@gmail.com.
The Award
There are two award categories: (1) Early Career and (2) Established Career Award.
Emerging Professional: Awarded to SPEVI Inc members who have completed postgraduate study in the field of blindness and low vision in the past three years and are establishing their professional practice.
Established Professional: Awarded to SPEVI Inc members with significant experience in the blindness and low vision field who continue to demonstrate excellence while seeking to further enhance their professional knowledge, skills, leadership, and innovation.
Each award category includes a $250 professional learning bursary and an award certificate.
The bursary is intended to support the recipient's ongoing professional learning and development and may be used for activities such as:
- Attendance at conferences, workshops, seminars, or short courses;
- Specialised training programs;
- Study visits and professional exchanges;
- Professional learning projects; and
- Other professional learning activities that contribute to improved services and educational outcomes for children and young people who are blind, have low vision, or are deafblind.
Eligibility
Nominees must:
- Be a current financial member of SPEVI Inc at the time nominations close and at the time of award selection
- Be nominated by a colleague who is familiar with their professional work and achievements.
- Demonstrate a commitment to professional learning and the application of knowledge to improve outcomes for children and young people who are blind, have low vision, or are deafblind.
- Provide the required nominee agreement as part of the nomination process.
Additional eligibility requirement for the Emerging Professional Category
Nominees for the Emerging Professional Category should normally have completed a recognised postgraduate qualification in the field of blindness and low vision within the three years preceding the nomination closing date.
The nomination process
If you would like to nominate a colleague for either the Emerging Professional or Established Professional category of the award, please complete and submit the nomination form:
Nomination Form, Frances Gentle Award for Innovations in Professional Learning
The SPEVI Inc Committee of Management will establish the selection panel biennially. Those SPEVI Inc members being considered for the award will not be included on the panel.
Award recipients
Award recipients will receive recognition on the SPEVI website and on social media channels.
Award recipients are required to make themselves available in-person or online for the award presentation during the SPEVI Conference in January 2027.
The proud and deserving winners of the inaugural 2025 Frances Gentle Award, announced during the SPEVI 2025 Conference, were:
- Lily Gower, Frances Gentle Award for Innovations in Professional Learning (Early Career)
- Bill Sakoulas, Frances Gentle Award for Innovations in Professional Learning (Established Career).