How long have you been in your role at John Wollaston?
I was lucky enough to complete my final practicum with the Secondary Physical Education Department back in 2009. I began teaching Primary PE the following year under a short contract, which ultimately led to a permanent position. When the Co-curricular Coordinator role was developed in 2023, I successfully secured the position and have been balancing it with the Primary PE role since then.
What motivates you to get up every morning to go to work?
Foremost, providing our students with opportunities. Opportunities to love moving and being part of a great community. I love our School. I may be biased, but I believe we have the best School! Our parents are very supportive and appreciative, and our students are genuinely great kids who are kind and happy. Our staff are like a giant family; many of us socialise outside of school, and it is like coming to work and working with friends. There is a reason why we have so many staff that stay 20+ years, because it really is special.
What do you love most about what you do?
I think there is something special about seeing a child’s face when they see or do something for the first time. I will never forget the year we took our Year 2’s to Rottnest, and some students had never been to the beach before; seeing their faces as they ran along the water’s edge in awe of the water lapping at their feet was just the best feeling. Often, these moments happen when our students are out in nature. It’s a face you don’t see every day, but when you do, it’s so special to witness and be a part of.
What initially sparked your interest in creating encounters for school children?
Our Encounter Program had been running for several years prior to the role being implemented with individual year group teachers designing their Encounter. I had attended many of the different Encounters in both Primary and Secondary. I loved seeing what the Encounters provided our students. I was impressed at seeing skills developed and opportunities offered to foster the development of the students’ whole self’. I wanted to be a part of that each time, not just when I was asked to go.
Do you have a mentor?
There have been many! In my younger years, most definitely my Outdoor Education teacher, Tim Martin from Norfolk Senior Campus. He fostered my love for education in the outdoor environment, gratitude for the natural environment and desire to be a teacher. Later, in teaching, I am lucky enough to work with some admirable and skilful staff. I feel that each professional I’ve had the opportunity to work with over the years has helped add to my school toolbox. In particular, I have sought a great deal of advice from David Crawford, who implemented the Secondary Encounter Program before my role was developed. He always makes himself available to answer questions, serves as my sounding board, and offers advice. He is always happy to share his depth of knowledge on all things school and operations, and that has meant that I have been able to learn a great deal from him. I also draw a lot from my colleague Quentin Hess, Head of House and Outdoor Education Teacher; his ability to think logistically, his pastoral care, his experience, and his ideas are constantly fuelling me to improve the way I work. And lastly, Anne Ford, our previous Principal, Fiona Shand, previous Deputy Head of Primary, and current Primary Head of Primary Tracey Rogers, Deputy Head of Secondary School Kylie Virgo, all amazing women in leadership that I have been lucky enough to work with, I admire their strength, professionalism and leadership.
What’s the most memorable moment/s of your career so far?
I think more than big moments, it is the small ones that make my career the most memorable and meaningful. Each Encounter (or even day) brings its own moment, memorable for different reasons. Sharing these with the students is the best part of my job. The ‘awe’ moment, the first times or when I see a student do something they thought they couldn’t. That’s where the golden moments are.
What’s the most significant achievement or milestone of your career at John Wollaston thus far?
Again, there have been many. In the Primary PE role, being used as a case study for Assessment in Primary PE and being asked to present at an AISWA forum. More recently, gaining the leadership role for Co-Curricular and being able to work in this space. Overall, the milestones lay in the students. The student that doesn’t like sport or being outdoors who loves it by the time they leave you or the ones that don’t believe in their abilities that can see their strengths. They are my biggest achievements.
What are you most looking forward to right now in your Encounters program?
I am excited to get my teeth into developing a scope and sequence so we can map our Encounter Program. Along with developing this, we will see many changes to our existing Encounters, strengthening our Program and opportunities for students and, of course, the staff who also benefit from being involved with the Encounters.
What advice would you give to teachers who wish to create their own Encounters?
Know your school policies and your staff/ student capabilities. It all comes down to good planning. Ensure you have the proper procedures in place to provide the best duty of care for your students to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for both staff and students. Know what your students need to challenge them to provide growth opportunities. Do you have the staff or providers to support this? Identify the strengths of your attending staff and ensure they are in the right role during an encounter.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t get comfortable! Seize the opportunities and say yes often! Participate in all the activities/games and opportunities -even those you know you will not win or succeed in. Through challenge and failure, you will see the biggest growth opportunities!
