I am an Australian-born lecturer, teacher and private tutor, with experience working in secondary schools and higher education institutions. Recently I have worked as a sessional lecturer at Griffith University and a visual and media arts teacher at St Hilda’s School. In 2014, I completed a Graduate Diploma of Education – Secondary, specialising in Visual Art and Film & Television. Throughout this postgraduate program, I achieved consistent High Distinctions and graduating with a GPA of 7 (UK equivalent First Class). Upon certification, I was awarded an ‘S1 – Outstanding’ in the practice of teaching, placing me amongst the top 5% of graduate teachers in Queensland in 2014. In 2015, I completed a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), also graduating with a GPA of 7 (UK equivalent First Class) and was awarded a 2014-2015 Griffith Award for Academic Excellence, placing me in the top 5% of students. I am motivated by a love of learning to share this passion and inspire my students.

Although I come from a family of teachers, I did not go straight into teaching after graduating from high school in 2004. My first degree is a Bachelor of Visual Media, majoring in digital design and fine art, which I completed in 2008. During my time at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, I received an academic excellence award for my GPA of 6.5. As an undergraduate I was involved in a variety of exhibitions, festivals and events, working as a multidisciplinary artist and volunteer. It was during this time that I discovered a passion for photography, winning a Gold Coast Arts Centre prize for photography in 2008.

After graduating I continued to pursue a career as a photographer, working in various studios while honing my skills in the art of portraiture. I began my career in the film industry in 2010 as a design assistant in the art department for the Spielberg production Terra Nova. In 2011 I was commissioned as a photographer on P.J Hogan’s film Mental, shooting Liev Schreiber in my newly established studio. Here I continued to develop my photography practice with a variety of commissions from private and commercial clients. In 2012 the Australian Institute of Professional Photography awarded me the accreditation of professional photographer.

Photography studio, 2011.

During this time I also established the Gold Coast’s only dedicated photography gallery, Gallery on the Lane, a non-profit art space providing local and international artists with a platform to showcase their work. Our premier exhibition, Directors of Photography – Personal Works was my curatorial debut, involving fifteen leading cinematographers from Australia, the US and the UK, including Academy Award nominee Donald McApline and Emmy award winner Jon Cassar. In 2011, the Gallery won the inaugural Arts Centre Online Marketing Prize. As gallery director I was responsible for all aspects of running the space, from co-ordinating artists and curating exhibitions, to hosting regular events and opening nights. One of the events I was proud to organise and host at the Gallery was the Cancer Treatment Transport Fund’s annual cocktail party, a charity established by the former Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke, during which over $10,000.00 was raised for the cause.

Gallery On The Lane, 2012.

In 2013 my husband and I spent six months traversing Europe on a motorcycle, from north to south, and west to east. Throughout the trip we maintained a multimedia blog of our adventure, Our Big Fat Bike Trip, where we regularly posted photographs, videos, statistics and anecdotes.

Our Big Fat Bike Trip, 2013.

After arriving home, I knew that I was ready to take on a new challenge. My passion for helping others, ability to listen and patience contributed to my decision to pursue a career in education.