About me

I am a committed and passionate educator who has spent my 20+ year teaching career working with learners across primary, secondary, and tertiary settings. I have extensive experience working with disengaged and vulnerable learners in school settings. As a ‘jack/jill of all trades’ classroom teacher, I have taught K-10 English, Science, HaSS, Work Studies, Auslan and Technologies, as well as ATAR Year 11-12 English, Politics and Law, Business, Earth and Environmental Science, and Legal Studies. The majority of my school-based experience has been in flexible, trauma-informed schools supporting students with social-emotional challenges to find passion and success in learning.

Commencing in Sept 2025, I am an Educational. Designer for Accessibility at Edith Cowan University as they undergo a curriculum transformation. I also unit coordinate and teach in education units (BEd and MTeach). I am particularly experienced in literacy teaching and secondary professional experience / pedagogy units that operate in an asynchronous, online learning environment.

In December 2024, I was awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) for my demonstrated commitment to professional teaching standards and excellence in higher education. I also hold AITSL Highly Accomplished Teacher status and am working on my 5 year renewal portfolio for 2026.

I have extensive experience delivering training, workshops, and presentations. Many of these have focused on:

• Qualitative research methods, particularly thematic analysis, equipping researchers and students to confidently manage, analyse, and present qualitative data in varied professional and academic contexts.
• Effectively communicating research, including practical strategies for condensing complex projects into engaging, concise presentations such as the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT).
• Staff well-being and resilience, providing evidence-based, practical tools and workshops designed to support educators and educational leaders in managing workload, stress, and emotional challenges inherent in teaching environments.
• Living with invisible disability, particularly in relation to self advocacy, managing workplace boundaries, identity and responding to “but you don’t look disabled”.

I am a doctoral candidate (EdD) at Central Queensland University researching the experiences of children, teachers, and volunteers in reading-to-dog programs. My thesis was submitted for examination in Sept 2025. My passion for this research area came from my time working with disengaged teens, alongside my experience as a reading dog volunteer with my westie, Sasha (below).

Other interesting / unusual things about my background include:

• I commenced my second attempt at doctoral studies at the age of 37. It was something I had been thinking about for a long time, but imposter syndrome (especially as someone who previously “mastered out” was a hard thing to overcome. I was knocked back at interview stage by a few unis who told me I needed to do an MPhil or MRes first….despite holding two MEds, extensive professional experience and already being published. I then met my supervisors at CQU as an external applicant (online student) and they were amazingly supportive and keen to have me!
• Most students studying at a doctoral level (especially those with a research training program stipend scholarship) need to meet certain requirements eg first class honours, WAM over 80+, academic publications and so on. I don’t meet any of those! I lived out of home from the age of 15 and worked 30+ hours a week from when I was 16 to support myself. Prior to that, I was a young carer for my mum. I am a firm believer that your background experiences shape you and drive you….but they don’t define you
• I’ve launched a number of small businesses during career breaks or when I decided to take some time to pivot in a new direction. These have always been based around my strengths (teaching, writing, helping others) and have allowed me flexibility and to keep working in areas I enjoy. I have a lot of respect for women in small business and support local where I can
• I am a chronic pain sufferer. This means at times I use a mobility aid to manage my degenerative spinal condition

Achievements and Awards

Winner of the CQU Visualise Your Thesis competition 2025. Represented CQU at the international finals in Oct 2025.

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