When I left school, I planned to become a pharmacist, particularly working in a laboratory environment. However, I did not achieve the TEE score required to enter Pharmacy, so I enrolled in Chemistry with the intention of transferring after my first year. I quickly discovered how much I enjoyed the subject and decided to continue,…
My career in plumbing started when I was sitting in year 11 and realised I did not want to sit behind a desk for the rest of my life, I wanted to be working in an active environment, working with my hands. Once I had made my decision, I began gaining work experience in a…
All throughout high school I felt pressured to go to university. It was very much drilled into my head that you didn’t succeed unless going to university straight after school. And so, I did! Having no real idea what I wanted to do, I knew I was passionate about criminology, so I decided to get…
When I finished school, I thought university was the only pathway to success. I completed two university degrees and spent years working in government compliance before realising I wanted a career where I could build something tangible every day. Starting a bricklaying apprenticeship as an adult completely changed my life. Today I’m one of Australia’s…
I’m a proud Djukun woman from the West Kimberley who has lived on Yamatji Country in the Mid West for the past 58 years. My work in education has taken me across a range of primary and secondary schools, where I have been privileged to support students, families, staff, and communities. I am deeply committed…
My educational and professional journey has been built on a strong foundation of learning, adaptability, and a passion for supporting students. I hold a Diploma of Business, which has provided me with the skills to excel in a range of administrative and organisational roles within education. Over the past 16 years, I have worked across…
After leaving school, I pursued two passions: Accounting and Teaching. I began my career in Accounting through a traineeship while completing a Bachelor of Commerce, gaining over 20 years of experience across Chartered, Not-for-Profit, and Commercial sectors. Following a career break, I embraced a new direction after receiving a scholarship to study Mathematics Teaching at…
With over 20 years’ experience in the education sector, I began my career as a Physical Education teacher before moving into Senior Schooling and career development. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed helping students discover and achieve their desired pathways during and beyond school. As both an educator and business owner, I have always seen…
I have been working in education for over 30 years as a high school teacher, teaching in classrooms across Australia and the UK. Throughout my career, I have taught across multiple faculties, including Creative Arts and STEM, which has given me a broad perspective on student learning and development. Over the past five years, I…
After coming to senior school teaching later on in my working life, I found myself in a series of roles in the education space outside of the traditional classroom. These roles were supporting disengaged young people back to learning, training and employment and they have now evolved into my current role as a VET Coordinator.…
With more than ten years of experience in this regional leadership role, Peta-Anne has led and supported a broad range of collaborative projects and strategic partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for students, staff, schools, and local communities. She is passionate about bringing people together to build strong networks that enhance educational outcomes and strengthen community…
My journey into education began unexpectedly when a desire to travel led me to accept a teaching position in South Korea. What started as an overseas adventure quickly became a rewarding career, inspiring me to complete a Master of Education (Education Technology), which combined my creative arts and digital media background and ultimately led me…
I grew up on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and didn’t have any special talents – just a strong interest in maths and science, and a preference for learning by doing. I also knew I wanted a career that got me outside. At different points in my life I wanted to be a vet, physicist,…
In high school, I wanted to be a journalist. I left after Year 10 and went to secretarial school instead. At 16, I started working as a Records Officer for Dept Transport. I fell pregnant and was let go, so I moved on to admin jobs in law offices until my son was born. To…
Science was never on my radar growing up. I was the drama, history, and literature kid, until a diving trip to Thailand changed everything. My instructor had this way of explaining the complex ecological relationships happening right in front of us underwater, and something clicked. I didn’t just want to see it; I wanted to…
During high school I had no idea what career path I would take – I had a passion for dancing (at one point I actually thought I wanted to pursue that full time) but also enjoyed academics. I ended up studying a dual degree of Journalism and Law at university – not because I knew…
My journey into sustainability wasn’t a straight line. I even did an extension year in high school studying jazz guitar, but I always knew I was drawn to STEM and fascinated by buildings. I grew up and went to school in Brisbane, then moved to Melbourne to study Architecture at Deakin University. I chose architecture…
When I finished high school, I took a gap year before enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts (Writing). I chose this degree because while I knew I wanted to go to uni, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I’ve always been a “words person”. After I graduated, I…
I enjoyed biology and chemistry at high school and hoped to continue studying these subjects at university. I first studied in China but was placed in a program that didn’t suit. After a year, I made the choice to start again in Australia, studying chemical and metallurgical engineering. After graduation, I went on to work…
My journey may be slightly different than the rest! Before graduating from high school, I was offered a scholarship to study at an engineering university in Malaysia, one owned by the national oil company. That opportunity set my early career path towards the oil and gas sector, which suited my desire to travel and work…