An Adelaide Hills teacher has been recognised on the global stage, with Hills Christian Community School educator Colleen O’Rourke named among the world’s top 50 teachers for the 2026 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize.
Ms O’Rourke was selected from more than 5,000 applications worldwide and is one of just two Australian educators to make the global top 50 list.
The international award recognises exceptional impact in education, with finalists acknowledged for innovation, leadership and positive outcomes for students and communities.
Hills Christian Community School said the recognition was an extraordinary achievement and a moment of pride for the Adelaide Hills.
“This recognition celebrates Colleen’s passion, innovation and unwavering commitment to shaping young lives and brighter futures,” the school said in a statement.
Ms O’Rourke has more than 20 years’ experience in education and is the school’s Digital Technologies Specialist and Leader of Digital Innovation, teaching students from Reception to Year 10.
She is known for developing the Nature-Nurture-Network curriculum, an approach that blends digital learning with nature-based exploration, using technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, drones and extended reality. The program has been particularly impactful for neurodivergent students, with research showing improvements in engagement, confidence and emotional regulation.
Her work also extends beyond the classroom, including international virtual reality projects connecting students with peers across Australia and overseas, and a long-term VR archive documenting the restoration of the Onkaparinga Valley River.
Ms O’Rourke will now represent Australia at the Global Teacher Prize awards ceremony in Dubai in February 2026.
If awarded the top prize, she plans to make her Nature-Nurture-Network curriculum freely available to schools around the world, with a focus on inclusive learning for neurodivergent students and global collaboration through technology.
