The 2024 Premier’s ANZAC Spirit School Prize has been awarded to 19 Year 9 and 10 students from across South Australia who will be invited to join a 12-day study tour to Vietnam in April 2025 coinciding with ANZAC Day.

The prize encourages secondary students to learn about the war-time experiences and sacrifices of South Australian service men and women by researching an individual who served during World War 1 or 2. Students are also asked to describe how the person they have researched epitomises the ANZAC spirit.

The in-depth research task forms part of the compulsory History study of World War 1 for Year 9 students and World War 2 for Year 10 students in the Australian Curriculum.

The judging panel, made up of the History Teachers Association of SA, Virtual War Memorial Australia and the Returned and Services League of SA, selects the winners based on the depth of the research and the written quality of the piece.

The prize aims to highlight and preserve South Australia’s service history by encouraging a new generation of students to investigate and commemorate Australia’s war-time efforts.

Department for Education Chief Executive Professor Martin Westwell said the study of Australia’s war-time history is an important component of the curriculum, and our educators play a vital role in supporting young people who are interested in delving deeper into this subject.

“I have no doubt that travelling to Vietnam in April 2025 will be a life-changing opportunity for these young people to build their understanding and global perspective”.

The winners were presented with a medallion on Tuesday 19 November by the Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer, at a formal award ceremony at the Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide.