English Australia and Cambridge recognise the importance of engaging teachers in research and in 2010 initiated a funded program of classroom practitioner research projects across the ELICOS sector in Australia. The program is now in its fifteenth year and is having a major impact on teaching in ELICOS – and beyond. Click here for details of this program.
The program culminates with the presentation of the Award for Action Research at annual English Australia Conference. The winner of this award is selected from current participants of the Action Research Program. The winner is the person or pair whose research report gains the highest score from the award judging panel.
The winner receives:
The winner of the Award is considered by the program Reference Group to have best met the following criteria:
The winner is selected by the program Reference Group, comprising Professor Anne Burns as well as representatives from Cambridge and English Australia.
The winner has participated in the English Australia Action Research in ELICOS Program for the year of the Award.
Congratulations to the finalists of this award in 2025!
The Award winner will be announced at the 2025 English Australia Conference Gala Awards Dinner taking place on 28 August in Brisbane.
The winner of the 2024 Action Research in ELICOS Award is Diala Ibrahim and Brad McClymont, Language Facilitators, UNSW College.
Diala and Brad’s research presents an AI Learning Continuum that integrates three ChatGPT tools across the academic discussion development cycle. This research focuses on four key discussion skills: Ideation, Interaction, Elaboration and Investigation. Students begin preparing for their discussions with ChatGPT Brainstorming Partner. This function allows them to consolidate their ideas and prompt for deeper investigation. The ChatGPT Discussion Coach comes in next to verbally coach students on the four key discussion skills and provide real time feedback. Students then discuss their topics in groups and receive a feedback report produced by the third function: ChatGPT Feedback Tutor. Finally, students prompt Feedback Tutor for a live consultation and advice on their discussion skills and make improvements to their discussion transcripts. These tools work independently and combined. They can be replicated or adapted to support various lessons and skills development at any stage of the learning cycle. The Learning Continuum creates a classroom atmosphere that balances technology with human interaction.
2024 – Diala Ibrahim and Brad McClymont, Language Facilitators, UNSW College
2023 – Vicky Chang, CQU English Melbourne
2022 – Virginia Mawer, ELICOS Teacher, Centre for English Teaching + Learning Hub, The University of Sydney
2021 – Dale Jung and Kate Randazzo, UNSW Global
2020 – Kirsty Phease, Senior Teacher for Blended Learning, Hawthorn Melbourne
2019 – Renee Constantin, ELICOS Teacher, Ability English Sydney
2018 – Meredith MacAulay and Tania Bencic, Teachers, UNSW College
2017 – Keren Stead Bomfim, Centre for English Teaching, The University of Sydney
2017 Runners up: Melissa Oldroyd & An Sneyers, Monash College
2016 – Sascha Mitchell, QUT College, QLD
2016 Runners up: Vishvani Campbell & Catherine Thorpe, Monash University English Language Centre, VIC
2015 – Sally Crane and Elizabeth Furst, University of Tasmania, TAS
Runners up: James Heath & Biank Malecka, UNSW Institute of Languages, NSW
2014 – Caroline Keogh & John Smith, GELI, QLD
Runners up: Jade Sleeman & Kerry Ryan, La Trobe Melbourne, QLD
2013 – Becky Steven & Jessica Cobley, UWA Centre for English Language Teaching, WA
Runners up: Tim Dodd and Selena Kusaka, La Trobe Melbourne, QLD
2012 – Damien Herlihy & Zeke Pottage, Swinburne College, VIC
2011 – Brendan Brown, Milner International College of English, WA
2010 – Laura McCrossan, Milner International College of English, WA
English Australia thanks Cambridge Assessment English, its committed partner in delivering the Action Research in ELICOS Program and the Award for Action Research since 2010.
