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2008 winner - the Kevin Dawes Prize

This prize is awarded to the most outstanding student in the science education subjects in the Bachelor of Education in Primary Education.

1. Where are you teaching?
I am a special education teacher in the support unit at Coonamble Public School, in Western NSW. I teach a class of 8 Aboriginal students with disabilities ranging from mild to severe intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, behaviour disorders and emotional disturbance.

2. What student achievements helped you win the award?
Throughout uni, I always put in my best effort for assignments. This was obviously far easier in subjects that I enjoyed, and the subject matter in Science struck a personal interest. Learning is so much easier when it links into your prior knowledge, and that was certainly the case for Science.

3. How have you used the content of the BEd in your occupation?
All my notes, resources and text books were one of the first things to get packed when I moved away. I couldn’t imagine teaching without them. Not only do they provide me with many ideas and strategies for teaching my very diverse class, they act as a constant reminder to keep up with research and to face my challenges through theory, rather than simply through instinct.

4. Where do you see your career and lifelong learning heading?
Working in rural NSW has highlighted how important it is to step outside my comfort zone. The challenges presented by doing so encourage lifelong learning and so hopefully too, a quality teacher. For now, I expect to stay in the special education field and hope to experience a wide variety of special needs classrooms. I enjoy sharing what I am learning with my colleagues, but also learning from their experiences, so perhaps I will continue with further study. Ultimately, I am open to the possibilities that may face me in the future.