Today is Australia’s World Teachers’ Day! Established in 1994 by UNESCO, this day focuses on recognising the essential role teachers play worldwide in education and society. Each year, a different theme highlights specific aspects of teaching and education. For 2024, the theme is “Valuing teacher voices: towards a new social contract for education”, emphasising the importance of listening to and valuing teachers’ insights and expertise.
Our teachers at Camberwell Girls are an outstanding team of educators. World Teachers’ Day is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on their enormous collective capacity and express our appreciation for their dedication, hard work and passion for their craft. Today, Mrs Dunwoody hosted a morning tea for staff, acknowledging the positive impact Camberwell Girls teachers have on the lives of our young people. This far-reaching impact over 15 years could involve more than 70 teachers for each individual student. Now that’s a significant impact!
I am always keen to hear from teachers what led them to become an educator. For me, as a musician, it was initially about the opportunity to impart my love and passion for music-making to future generations of musicians. Once in the classroom, I soon realised that education is far more than imparting knowledge, skills and understanding. It is about building a community of life-long learners who are seen, known, valued and empowered. Teaching is an incredibly rewarding vocation that is centred on human connection, growth and creating a learning environment where every student can thrive, no matter what discipline area is being taught. The reciprocal nature of teaching means that while we teach, we also learn from our students. Their unique perspectives and experiences enrich our understanding and ever evolving approach to education.
My decision to become a teacher was made very early in life. For others, it can be a deliberate career change from a previous profession. Curious to understand such a journey, I recently asked three Camberwell Girls teachers why they made the decision to switch to education.
For our Head of Drama and Performing Arts, Keira Lyons, it was a decision that came six years into a successful career as an independent artist in theatre making, acting and puppeteering. Keira shared, “Originally, I elected to train as a teacher because I wanted to better understand the education industry and how I could serve it through my art. I found, on my teaching rounds, that teaching my craft actually strengthened my craft and vice versa. That’s the true value of education: its ability to unlock worlds within the learner. Learning never stops in your life. It felt important to me to work in an art form (and teaching IS an art form), that felt necessary and vital in what it could offer to others as individuals and, consequently, as a community.”
While completing her PhD, Science Teacher and MakerSpace Coordinator, Dr Vicky Ellis, was given the opportunity to deliver sessional lectures, tutorials and labs for undergraduate courses. She then moved into research and reflects, “I loved that process of working with someone as they struggled through the learning process and the sense of elation and achievement when they finally mastered something new. There are very few teaching-only positions at the tertiary level in Australia, so I decided to try out the secondary sector and I am so glad I did. I love a challenge and teaching young people – every year I get to spend time with students that make me challenge my thinking, keeping me on my toes. I consider myself privileged to be given the opportunity to share with the young people I teach my love for science and learning in general, and to be a part of the next generation of scientists who will make their mark in their own way.”
Prior to entering the field of education, Mr Ivan Carlise, Director of Digital Learning, worked in Artificial Intelligence research, Electrical Engineering, and consulting on Sustainability matters. For him, values alignment and a love of learning have been the two key motivators throughout his career journey. “My plan when pivoting into education was to teach for a few years and then transition into education policy, however working in school community contexts is deeply rewarding. The atmosphere of learning and being able to work with day-to-day integrity makes it the perfect fit for me.”
What an inspirational team of teachers we have at CGGS and it has been an absolute joy for us all to experience the very last chapter of our Year 12s’ journey over the past two weeks. This year level has embraced their final year of schooling with great energy, whilst also displaying sincerity and care for their peers. Recent events such as Presentation Night, the Valedictory Service and Valedictory Dinner have given our school community the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the Year 12 cohort for their outstanding achievements and contribution to the School; stemming right back to Junior School memories of Ormiston for some.
We wish all students studying a Units 3&4 subject the very best throughout the current VCE examination period. It is fitting on World Teachers’ Day to thank our dedicated VCE teachers and the many teachers across the years for preparing these students for their upcoming examinations and also for shaping their minds for future learning in the world beyond Camberwell Girls.
With best wishes,
Davina McClure
Deputy Principal
