Murat Dizdar

Hello everyone. It's Murat Dizdar, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education.

Prue Car

And I'm Prue Car, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning.

Murat Dizdar

We're coming to you from our beautiful library at Holroyd High School and we're on the lands of the Dharag people.

We want to pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and to every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learner, teacher, support staff member and leader in our family of public education in NSW.

Prue Car

We're here to celebrate Public Education Week 2026.

This week is about recognising all the extraordinary work happening right across NSW in your classrooms, playgrounds and communities, and of course the life-changing impact of high-quality public education.

It's also a moment to say thank you. Thank you to you, our teachers, our leaders, our support staff and our families for everything you do.

Murat Dizdar

It's a fantastic theme for this year's Public Education Week, Inspiring Excellence.

And for all of us, excellence is about challenging and supporting every student because we want them to learn and to grow and to reach their full potential.

So to kick things off, Holroyd High School has opened their doors to us.

Prue Car

We are going to do our best to keep up, although I suspect we might be the ones learning a few things today.

Murat Dizdar

What I do love about this year's theme is that excellence in public education extends across every one of the areas of school life.

It's about academic achievement, about creativity, sport, leadership and problem solving.

At the end of the day, it's about opportunity, and our collective role is to create the environment where every student can achieve great things.

Prue Car

And that's exactly what we're doing through our commitment to high potential and gifted education: the Inspire program.

As you all know, every public school in NSW now has access to support and opportunities that help our students extend themselves to think bigger, go further and explore what they're really capable of. Because every single student deserves the chance to reach their full potential.

Murat Dizdar

We're fully respectful that none of this can happen without our army of 95,000 dedicated public school teachers, 48,000 wonderful support staff, 2,219 school principals and their leadership teams.

They are the ones constantly identifying potential, nurturing talent, and creating the opportunities for every one of our students to challenge themselves and grow.

That's what Inspiring Excellence looks like in action.

Prue Car

Our students continue to impress us not just with what they achieve, but how they approach their learning, how they support each other, and how they're contributing to their communities.

Murat Dizdar

So that's enough from us.

Prue Car

Let's hear from the real experts.

Tell us your name and what you've been working on.

Georgia

Hi, I'm Georgia and what I've been working on is a dance performance with Holroyd High School in the Inspiring 'Spark' program.

Our dance group got to perform last year at the Pulse Alive showcase and we got to have fun and enjoy each other's company.

Prue Car

Excellent.

Murat Dizdar

Sounds fantastic being on a big stage like that. What did you enjoy most about it?

Georgia

What I got to enjoy is spending time with the people I truly care about as well as to show that my different side, not in the classroom as well, which I got to really enjoy.

Prue Car

So Michael, what about you?

What does Inspiring Excellence mean to you?

Michael

Inspiring excellence means to me is being a great role model for my fellow students inside and outside the classroom and showing the students what is really important and making sure their voice is important as well.

Murat Dizdar

I love your mindset Michael.

What have you learnt that surprised you?

Michael

The thing that surprised me is having the stage presence that I never thought that I would have and just expressing myself as a leader and showing the students who I've become and what I can become and showing the students what being a great role model and what they can become.

Prue Car

That's such an important lesson for not only the students but for all of us. Hard work, persistence really pays off.

Murat Dizdar

Let's bring in another one of our fantastic students, Luka. Amazing talent and ability.

Luka, tell us what you've been working on?

Luka

I've been working on my paintings of dinosaurs for my shop, 'Luka Designs'

Prue Car

You are so talented, Luka. We are blown away by all this stuff that you've done.

How has that helped you learn?

Luka

I learnt how to paint and turn what I am learning into something people can buy.

Murat Dizdar

We love your confidence, we love your talent.

That's just so important and you're a great example of what our schools do to grow that talent in our students.

Prue Car

So now question for all of you, do you have any advice for all the other students across NSW?

Georgia

Advice that I would give is probably to never let anyone tell you what is right and what is wrong and go for what you think is right.

Michael

For me, everyone like us has the potential to become a leader.

Luka

Do what you love. When you make things, you love it. It makes learning more fun and you become your best.

Prue Car

That's excellent advice.

Murat Dizdar

Across more than 2,200 public schools in NSW, our students are learning and growing and achieving in so many different ways.

Public education is about opening doors and making sure every one of our students has the opportunity to walk through them with confidence.

Prue Car

That's what Inspiring Excellence is all about. It's about high expectations, strong support and a belief in every student.

I am so looking forward to seeing schools right across the state celebrating their achievements, being proud of their communities and what they offer.

Murat Dizdar

So whether you're a student, one of our dedicated teachers or support staff or leaders, or a parent or guardian or part of the wider community. Thank you for being part of public education in NSW.

Prue Car

Thank you for helping us inspire excellence every day.

Prue Car and Murat Dizdar

Happy Public Education Week.

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