Performance and achievements

• Outstanding results in the CSIRO CREST Research Awards, Australia’s premier research awards in Science: 8 Gold, 61 Silver and 9 Bronze National Research Awards. A phenomenal achievement and recognition of how our students are challenging what is possible when students are supported to exceed their own expectations of themselves.
• 100% of Year 10 students gained a Certificate II in Sample and Measurement and Certificate III in Laboratory Techniques.
• One Year 12 student was awarded the ‘Making it Matter’ Award from Griffith University with a bursary of $5000.
• ​​One student was awarded the Peter Doherty Outstanding Senior STEM Student award.
• A student was the recipient of Griffith University’s - The Spark Award.
• ​​One student received the Vice Chancellor Elite Scholarship from Bond University.
• A student received the Ramsay Scholarship from the University of Wollongong and the University of Queensland.​

​Queensland Academies were created by Education Queensland as an innovative, alternative educational program for highly capable high school students.  We are a selective State High School for Years 10-12.

• Eight students were awarded in the Science Teachers Awards of Queensland (STAQ) which resulted in QAHS students achieving 2 x 1st places, 1 x 2nd place, 3 x 3rd places and 2 Highly Commended. One student’s Extended Essay project was selected by STAQ for entry into the National ASTA i3 Awards.
• Three students competed at the state finals of the Royal Australian Chemistry Institute (RACI) Titration Competition, achieving 2 Gold and 1 Silver awards.
• 49 students sat the Australian Science Innovation (ASI) Science Olympiad exams in the Junior and Senior Divisions achieving 5 High Distinctions, 10 Distinctions and 27 Credits.
• QAHS celebrated our first published student researcher (Class of 2021) for the publication of her Extended Essay research in Biology.
• 29 students achieved a Distinction or High Distinction in the International Chemistry Quiz.
• Two Alumni were confirmed as part of the nine-member Australian Team to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas, Texas.
• Four Year 11 students and one Year 12 student attended the University of Queensland 2023 SPARQ-ed Senior Research Immersion Program at the Translational Research Institute in the Autumn holidays. Two of these students were awarded the Lions Medical Research Foundation Regional Student Scholarship.
• Year 10 Physics students came third in the Griffith University Engineering Challenge.
• Ten QAHS students received awards in the Senior Division of the Griffith University Gold Coast Science Competition. QAHS was again declared the Best Overall Senior School.
• Ten Year 10 students entered the Australian Science Innovations (ASI) Big Science Competition. Students earned two High Distinctions, one Distinction and four Credits.
• Six QAHS students (in two teams) participated in the Royal Australian Chemistry Institute (RACI) Gold Coast Regional Titration Competition. One team of three students qualified for the Queensland State Titration Finals, with students receiving two Gold and one Silver awards.
• Twelve students participated in the ASI Junior Science Olympiad, with two students achieving High Distinctions, four students with Distinctions and six achieving Credits.
• One student has been selected into the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Program for January 2024, securing full sponsorship from Broadwater Southport Rotary Club.

• A number of students were selected for the State and Australian Honours Ensemble Programs, for which they rehearsed and performed at Griffith University Conservatorium in Brisbane.
  
• The QAHS String Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band, debuted at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod. String Ensemble in A Grade received 3rd place and silver. Concert Band in A Grade received 3rd place and silver. Jazz Band in B Grade received 1st place and platinum.​

• 12 Year 10 students sat the ICAS English Test with results including 2 Distinctions, 6 Credits and 1 Merit Award.
• 16 Year 10 students sat the ICAS Maths Test with results including 3 Distinctions and 8 Credit Awards.
• 16 Year 10 students sat the ICAS Science Test with results including 1 High Distinction, 3 Distinctions, 7 Credits and 1 Merit Award.
• Two QAHS teams made the final of the Mayor’s Technology and Innovation Awards. One team was awarded 3rd place in the competition.
• One QAHS team was selected in the final of the Australian Tax Office’s Tax, Super and YOU competition.
• Three QAHS teams reached the Grand Final of the Gold Coast Debating Competition in their respective divisions. One QAHS team won their Grand Final in the Year 12 Open B category.
• One student was awarded 2nd place in the Year 11 A.B. Paterson Public Speaking Competition. Three QAHS students reached the finals.
• Two QAHS teams reached the semi-finals of Future Anything’s Activate program.
• Two teams represented QAHS in the Griffith University Criminal Law High Schools Mooting competition. One team took out 1st place in the competition, with three students receiving 1st, 2nd and 3rd place as individual mooters.
• Forty five trained for the 2023 Kokoda Challenge with eight training for the 96km Stan Bissett Cup and thirty seven for the 48km Jim Stillman Cup along with staff supervisors and support crew.
• Two Year 11 students were selected to be a part of the YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament.
• Five students were appointed to the 2023 Queensland Global Youth Summit Advisory Council. One student participated in the National Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra.
• Three teams represented QAHS in the QUT BlueShift Business Case competition, with one team selected to compete in the national final.
• Ten students participated in the Bond University High School Model United Nations Assembly.
• Fourteen QAHS students took part in the Duke of Edinburgh Practice Adventurous Journey facilitated by Numinbah Valley Environmental Education Centre. One Year 11 student completed the five day Silver Duke of Edinburgh Youth Voyage in Cairns.
• Ten Year 10 and Year 11 students stepped up to develop their public speaking skills in 2023 with International Toastmaster Mr Mark Hunter.
• ​The QAHS Lifesaver Program in partnership with Mermaid Beach AEME Surf Lifesaving Club were commended for their involvement in the Mermaid Marvels Inclusive Nipper Program. The Mermaid Marvels was established by a QAHS Alumnus student and won the Best Community Education Program for the South Coast Branch. The QAHS Lifesavers officially registered over 1300 volunteer patrol hours during the 2022/2023 season

• Students competed in the Modern Language Teachers’ Association of Queensland (MLTAQ) Speech competition across French, Mandarin and Spanish with 7 x 1st places and 12 top three placings at the event. The event at Griffith University also featured a stunning Chinese Dance performance by QAHS students.
  

• Two students were recognised as the 2023 Australian Olympic Committee’s Change Makers for their commitment and leadership in their respective sports (athletics, weightlifting and golf).
• A number of students were selected for national, state and regional sporting teams achieving awards at national and/or state level in archery, badminton, golf, surf life saving, swimming, track and field, weightlifting and volleyball.
• Seven students finished their Surf Lifesaving Bronze Medallion and Surf Rescue Certificates in early December and nine students received their Observer’s and Radio Operator’s Awards at Mermaid Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.
• Four students were invited to attend the After the Siren event at Griffith University for young athletes.
• Three QAHS teams competed at the Volleyball Queensland Senior Schools Cup event.
• One QAHS team competed in the Gold Coast Senior Schools Basketball Competition for season 2023.
• One student completed her tenure within the Gold Coast Sports Academy.