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Balancing Act

Anthony Marchione is like any other Uni student, balancing study and assignments with social commitments. As if this isn't hard enough, into the mix has come 'community engagement'. The term itself needed some explaining when Anthony enrolled in the Unit, Community Engagement Program as part of his third year studies for a Bachelor of Education. He quickly came to understand that it required him to apply himself, his skills and his knowledge, to support disadvantaged or marginalised people.

As a preservice teacher, Anthony has several opportunities to work alongside classroom teachers in mainstream schools. In one classroom, he met a student on the autism spectrum. He was immediately interested in learning more in order to better understand how he could meet the needs of students identified as autistic. So it was a short step for Anthony when he had to select a project for the community engagement unit. He decided to volunteer for two weeks of his mid-semester break to work alongside staff at Northern School for Autism (Jacana Campus). He supported teachers in the classrooms, assisted with the preparation and distribution of meals and was a much needed extra pair of hands and eyes on several excursions. His support was appreciated on trips to the local library, parks, Scienceworks and the Zoo which allowed the students at the school to practice skills in the wider community. Anthony too had the chance to practice his skills during the two weeks and recognises that he is the better for the experience. 'It was extremely enjoyable, rewarding and challenging.' Anthony is hooked! At the end of the two weeks, he decided to continue working with the school whenever time allowed. He is even considering the possibility of focusing his career on special education.

Anthony is the first to admit that he now has a better understanding of the importance of being involved in your local community. While he hopes that students at the Northern School for Autism benefitted from his time with them, he feels certain that the lessons he learnt will inform his actions as a teacher when he graduates.