MEDIA RELEASE
28 October 2009
Darwin Students Win Prizes in Leading International Competition
For the first time, there will a presentation ceremony for the Northern Territory participants in the annual
Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC). The ceremony will take place on Thursday, 29 October at
Charles Darwin University at 5.30pm.
Ms Susan Barton Thompson, General Manager, Curriculum, Teaching and Phases of Learning at the
Department of Education and Training, representing the Chief Minister, will present Prize certificates, Prudence
Awards and High Distinction Awards to the 26 local students.
The AMC is the major mathematics school enrichment event in the South Pacific region and the first and
one of the largest of its kind in the world. Several hundred thousand students from schools across 42
countries entered this year. This included 1600 students from 34 primary and secondary schools in the
Northern Territory who sat the competition.
Prizes are awarded to approximately the top 0.3% of students sitting the AMC in each year group within
each Australian state or country.
Whilst the AMC aims to encourage the average primary and secondary student in the study of
mathematics, it also identifies and acknowledges the more exceptional and talented students.
Professor Peter Taylor, Executive Director of the not-for-profit Australian Mathematics Trust, which
administers the AMC, said, “The AMC aims to encourage students of all standards in their study of
mathematics. It sets out to demonstrate how mathematics can be used in the world around them via problem
solving using the skills students learn in the classroom. The AMC has also been useful in identifying talented
students such as these and the results are used for inviting students into more advanced mathematical
enrichment programs.”
Two Darwin students who gained High Distinctions in the Australian Informatics Competition (AIC), which is
also conducted by the Trust, will receive their awards at this special ceremony.
Thomas Pisel, a Year 11 student at Darwin High School, will receive High Distinction Awards in both competitions.
The University of Canberra and the Canberra Mathematical Association in Australia are supporting sponsors
of the AMC.
Photo opportunity:
WHAT:
Special prize
giving ceremony for the 2009 Australian Mathematics
Competition and Australian Informatics Competition
WHEN:
Thursday, 29 October 2009, 5.30pm
REFRESHMENTS:
6.30pm-7.30pm
WHERE:
Charles Darwin University, Blue Building, Room 1.0101, Casuarina Campus
Media are cordially invited to attend.
For further information:
Ms Shelley Worthington, AMC State Director for NT – Mob: 0438 664 264
Suzanne Fraser, Manager, Australian Mathematics Trust; 6201 2954; 0437 670 610
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