I am a lifelong learner and always strive to extend my knowledge and skills, so this naturally led me to a career in education.
Having taught in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, China and Thailand, I am now Head of Program at Calamvale Community College. Every day I get to work with a diverse range of teachers and students – there’s never a dull moment!
I am extremely grateful for the opportunities QUT has provided me with throughout my studies. In 2009 I graduated from a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), and a few years later I completed a Graduate Certificate in TESOL.
As an advocate for equity in education, I wanted to find ways to ensure every child is nurtured to their full potential in the classroom. I decided to return to QUT to complete a Master of Education specialising in Leadership and Management. By engaging with relevant research and literature on leadership, I have not only gained knowledge but the confidence to lead people within my school.
Going back to my time at QUT, I remember all the lecturers were very supportive and made studying externally engaging and rewarding. QUT provided me with the flexibility to study at my own pace whilst working full-time and raising two young children.
When completing my postgraduate studies, I was impressed with how relevant and meaningful the assignments were. This gave me the opportunity to research best practices to bring about authentic change in my own context. I had to be highly organised since I was preparing for my portfolio for Highly Accomplished Teacher (AITSL) at the same time as studying for my masters.
A highlight from my teaching career was establishing the Mother Tongue Club in 2016 at John Paul College. The club is a space where students and parents from culturally diverse backgrounds learn to embrace and celebrate their ‘mother tongue’ at school.
The idea came about from my own experience migrating to Australia as a six-year-old from Taiwan and not being able to speak English. I remember feeling embarrassed to speak Mandarin in front of my peers. When I started my role as a Year Two teacher at John Paul College, I saw an opportunity to create a safe and positive space for students, parents and staff who came from many different cultural backgrounds. Nearly 7 years on, the Mother Tongue Club is still running at John Paul College.
In my current role as Head of Program at Calamvale Community College, I can transfer the knowledge gained from my Master of Education (Leadership and Management) and apply it in a school context. I feel privileged to have opportunities where I can build my own leadership capacity and also drive school-wide change to create greater impact.
As educators we can inspire future generations – what an amazing privilege that is!
