Dr. David Dufty Award
for
Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Society and Culture
The Society and Culture Association continues to pay our respect to the life of Dr David Dufty AM through the naming of an annual Award for excellence in teaching and learning in Society and Culture in his honour. David, along with Professor Sol Encel and others were driving forces in convincing the NSW government to introduce a new social science course to the HSC.
Society and Culture was the first such new course since the introduction of Ancient History in the 1960s. Since the first Society and Culture classes in 1986 our subject has provided opportunity for innovative learning, with both a contemporary and future focus.
In February 2020, the Society and Culture Association awarded the inaugural Dr. David Dufty Award for excellence in teaching and learning in Society and Culture, and since then, a teacher has been recognised each year for their extensive and ongoing contributions to the subject.
This year’s award focuses on high-impact teaching and learning resources and strategies used in the HSC Core Country Study.
The Society and Culture Association is pleased to announce a $3,000 monetary prize, contributing to reimbursing travel and accommodation costs for a study tour to the country explored in the recipient’s application (travel to take place within 18 months from the announcement of the recipient). The recipient will be required to submit a report OR resource on their study tour for publication in the Society and Culture Association’s CultureScope journal and speak to their in-country experience at an SCA Professional Learning event.
This award is open for self-nomination or peer nomination. If a teacher is nominated by a peer, the Society and Culture Association will contact the nominee to affirm the application process.
To nominate yourself or a colleague, please complete the application form and email it to awards@sca.nsw.edu.au by Friday, 28th August 2026.
Evidence (Steps 2-5) must be submitted via email to awards@sca.nsw.edu.au by Friday, 6th November 2026.
The recipient of this year’s Dr. David Dufty Award will be announced on Thursday, 17th December 2026. The Dr David Dufty Award Medal will be presented at the Society and Culture Awards in March 2027.
Nomination Form
Support Document
Congratulations to Caitlin Latty- Recipient of the 2025 Dr David Dufty Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Caitlin Latty from Oakhill College exemplified excellence in teaching and learning through her outstanding submission exploring the gender roles and status of men and women in Rwanda.
Her carefully designed sequence of lessons and connected learning plans demonstrated exceptional scaffolding to support the diverse needs of learners in her classroom. Through the successful implementation of an IDEA scaffold and targeted literacy support, Caitlin created a clear and coherent pathway that enabled students to move from deep conceptual understanding to sophisticated communication of knowledge. Sample student responses showcased the impact of these strategies in action.
Evidence provided, including reflections from a colleague, strongly highlighted Caitlin’s commitment to fostering an inclusive classroom culture and nurturing a genuine love of learning. Her practice reflects a dedication not only to the growth of her students but also to strengthening the broader Society and Culture community. It was clear that both Caitlin and her students would greatly benefit from a meaningful in-country study experience in Rwanda.
It is with great pleasure that we announce Caitlin Latty as the recipient of the 2025 Dr David Dufty Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
Congratulations, Caitlin, on this well-deserved recognition.
Dr David Dufty
Dr David Dufty AM (1926 - 2019)
David Dufty was a driving force in bringing Society and Culture into the NSW curriculum. He was the founding Chair of the Society and Culture Syllabus Committee, a teacher of teachers of Society and Culture and a Life Member of the Society and Culture Association.
David is remembered for his vision and the creativity and inspiration he brought to the development of Society and Culture as a significant curriculum innovation in our schools. Those who worked and studied with him remember Dufty as pragmatic, innovative, revolutionary, reflective and always original and ethical. These qualities have been an inspiration to so many Society and Culture teachers and are qualities now embedded in the Dr David Dufty Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Society and Culture.
Dr David Dufty
It is with great pleasure that Dr David Dufty Award for 2024 is awarded to Billie-Jo Fisher.
Billie-Jo's submission showcased an innovative designed teaching resource tailored to guide students through the complexities of the PIP. Billie-Jo’s work demonstrated a deep understanding of the Society and Culture syllabus to foster critical thinking and social and cultural literacy.
The submission reflects Dr. David Dufty’s emphasis on addressing cross-cultural understanding through differentiated strategies, empowering students to engage meaningfully with contemporary social issues.
Persis Kshetrapal
the 2020 recipient of the Dr. David Dufty Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Society and Culture
Christina Kalinic
the 2021 recipient of the Dr. David Dufty Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Society and Culture
Sara Gray
the 2022 recipient of the Dr. David Dufty Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Society and Culture
Mike Virata
The 2023 recipient of the Dr. David Dufty Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Society and Culture
