Christina Zacharia

Frances Penington

Heidi Mellor

Annelise Sara

Emily Trotman

Georgia Burge

Jacqueline Reid

Hayley Browne

Huoy Shi Boon

Suk Chen Yong

Abbey-Lee Bozkurt

Amanda Lam

Amy Luke

Cassandra Cody

Dazy Rose Bretana

Lily Donaldson

Liping Chen

Thanh Thuy Le

Jessica Safi

Francesca Lamond

Natalie Mazouin

Katelyn Ball

Lauren Chamberlain

Anita Huang

Olivia Michelle Etzrodt

Elle Caldwell

Sophia Caputo

Angelika Acklan

Brooke Lindsay

Emma Hill

Jasmine Nicholson

Rhiannon Chan

Anissa Dunkley

Anne Mckenna-Freeman

Claudia Moritz

Emily Carswell

Genevieve Barclay

Melissa Robinson

Sarah Toohey

Emily Catt

Jazmin Fensom

Lillian Horton-Hume

Catherine Hopkin

Chelsea Greenbank

Jasmine Wilson

Jessica Galea

Mikayla Selmon

Rachael Howlett

Emily Moorhead

Fung Sze Ng

Lauren Coates

Jordan Guy

Greta Tredinnick

Thomas Hammond

Jodie Ottosson

Alyssa Sanders

Erika Wilson

Gabrielle Redolfi

Hannah Jefferis

Jasmyn Robinson

Sienna Pitt

Alexis Withers

Allison Hibbert

Katelyn West

Lara Rodrigues

Lily Dodin

Simone McGennisken

Summer Elsalim

Belinda Carlyon

Lana Daaboul

Miho Yamaguchi

Ella Winstanley

Tamara Sycamnias

Sabrina Walsh

Darcy Irvin

Bella Colquhoun

Caitlin Wallace

Jessica Bevan

Rachel Ozerskis

Kahra Hutchings

Ashleigh Riepon

Lainey McPhee

Marina Eldahr

David Voglis

Kate Symonds

Lachlan Eveston

Nicholas Sinclair

Nicola Veneris

Paris Ballan

Shaina Cabiling

Harry Grentell

Joshua Lange

Anne Go

Anthony Batch

Courtney Foster

Eliza Martin

Eloise Berry

Emily Lee

Emily Galdes

Jade Katrib

Laura Mesiti

Lauryn Plichta

Leah Bensted

Madeline Simpson

Maggie Dale

Nigel McCord

Tahlia Dearden

Thien Kim Ton Nu

Zoe Apap

Holly Smith

Rachel Phillips

Lilli Strauss

Sarah Guthrie

Sophie Zipf

Giselle Fernandes

Bella Ponsford

Emily Connolly

Josephine Drummond

Madelaine Cadzow

Karla Herrmann

Phoebe Laird

Carissa Hickman

Janine Mclennan

Alannah Bottino

Annalise Ahmad

Chloe Severino

Emma Fraser

Georgia Momsen

Isabella Graham

Ivana Perisic Robinson

Tiffany Ross

Brittany Wollermann

Caitlin Robie

Grace Posthuma

Madeline Clark

Rebekah Dettmann

Amy Mcmaster

Caitlin Hodda

Ella Di Trapani

Emily Murrie

Emma Vanschaik

Helen Brumby

Jacqueline Cary

Jessica Turner

Julian Mcfarlane

Leisa Harvey

Liliana Urso

Matthew Smith

Melissa Di Blasi

Natasha Lim

Niamh Allan

Nicolas-Dylan Fernandez

Sophia Paiano

Zuleika-Iris Frias

Breanna Peisley

Kennedy Greenham

Olivia Bailey

Sharon Morton

Keeley Hobday

Shannyn Hinson

Caterina Nunez Antonini

Christopher Riley

Guy Chiumiento

Monique Carbone

Miranda Van Groningen

Bianca Gitsham

Chloe Mclaren

Donna Tran

Georgia Burston

Grace Mitchell

Anthony Gilchrist

Kate Patterson

Mikayla Price

Angela Pannekoek

Phillip Morello

Amelia Burge

Bethany Malone

Brad Dawes

Clara Khalil

Brianna Camilleri

Isabella Russo

Isabelle Hoodcamp

Sharleen Cabiling

Alex La Rossa

Julian Murray

Samuel Bargwanna

Tomas Jackson

Alice Young

Alana Camilleri

Alexandra Millington

Billy Savvidis

Elise Ho

Mikhaela Topfer

Brooke Herrero-Lopez

Madeline Hallam

Monique Rice

Noah Shean

Patricia Operana

Wencheng Gao

Xanthia Marinelli

Philip Ciclovan

Porsha Bet

Angela Humphrys

Lauren Carey

Olivia Turko

Joshua Drumond

Andrew Mcintosh

Charles Go

Patrick O'Donoghue

Rebecca Foster

Ruth Taylor

Charley Bajada

David Strachan

Laura Milford

Lucy Hall

Luke Noverraz

Rebecca Saywell

Tess Hamill

Lauren Kroll

Rita Laba

Laura Ariens

Natalie Lai

Taylah Russell

Fiona Hollamby

Cat-Thy Pham

Gia Hung Trieu

Samuel Hull

Ashleigh Kitchen

James Boland

Bianca Meleca

Juliet Palleschi

Richard Wilson-Elswood

Naomi Lam

Liam Gilbert

Reuben Brock

Kate Smith

Jason Parmaxidis

Susannah Frangie

Carmel Larrarte

Isabelle Danielis

Mahbobeh Hashemi

Nicole Fahey

Andre Parlas

Kaete Ashley

Maddison McNally

Matthew Murrie

Elise Noble

Matthew Godsall

Taryn Finch

Gemma Balaam

Monique Loughlin

James Catterson

Chloe Morgan

Lena Kluth

Sinead Wheeldon

Stella Ross

Michelle Agius

Aaron Lavell

Iona George

Charlotte Iannella

Courtney Sprenger

Melissa Gullifa

Veronica Barbagallo

Alana Piotti

Alexander Turner

Anna Castagnella

Catherine Exton

Charlotte Warner

Holly Sinclair

Lucy Wright

Margaret McKendry

Natasha Pellegrino

Teannie Makdessi

Meg Mikelsons

Harrison Jenner

Danielle Georgey

Corey Shea

Holly Ibrahim

Isabella Di Giandomenico

Lara Strati

Mickaella Douglas

Alexander Licata

Sarah Vella

Tessa Houlihan

Bella Clarke

Chiara Ravnik

Ella Mackenzie

Meagan Carter

Moriah Gash

Patrick Sheehan

Rachel Mcconnell

Sarah Carrasco

Thanh Nhi Vuong

Alyssa Perra

Alyssa Arcoleo

Angelica Bautista

Cindy Patino Jimenez

Georgia Girolami

Riordan King

Klarissa Jackson

Lachlan Sibir

Paul Barta

Charlotte Fitzsimons

Chau Anh Nguyen

Rachelle Spadoni

Anastacia Patsolaridis

Benjamin Wood

Harrison Foresto

Siobhan Bourke

Elisabeth Marriner

Carina Zahra

Harrison Layton

Megan Hodge

William Rodwell

Ella McDonell

Patrick Tynan

Shania Turk

Lindsey Cordery

Domenico Ferreri

Vivienne Taylor

Andreia Mendoza

Daisie Kuypers

Chloe Sneddon

Frank Pritchard

Emma Lawther

Toby Fitzgerald

Hayley Melenhorst

Phoebe Macklin

Isaac Russell

Bridget Hofing

Deanna Lo Bianco

Emma Webb

Alexandra Roberts

Bojana Gojkovic

Lara Tribel

Ngoc Phuong Quynh Vo

Brooke Hunter

Maria Koukoulias

Kylie Vutilolo

Pauline Cummins

Sabrina Laianca

Aimee Edwards

Joanne Emma Camoens

Thi To Nga Bui

Victoria Agatha

Rosemary Sparks

Mackenzie Carsley

Monique Garamy

Victoria Stojic

Cherry Cornelio

Sophie Welsh

Emily Madden

Emily Stevenson

Melissa Brglevski

Anna Bennett

Daniela Tripodi

Samantha Ienco

Carmen Mckenzie

Alysha Fitzgibbon

Melinda Emmett

Stacey Nelson

Patricia Nolan

Madeline Koeberler

Tayla Saunders

Elise Paull

Hannah Lutze

Bernadette Curran

Kate Cilia

Catherine Langron

Maddison Beattie

Brianna May

Micaela Mccombe

Sarah Morgan

Kasinda Grasby

Lisa Van Waegeningh

Jessica Takchi

Mirna Sandroussi

Lauren Rider

Brianna Searle

Erin Galliott

Julia Malfitano

David Martin

Danielle Young

Shaun Pollock

Jade Schnitzerling

Kimberley Delisser

Sophia Caputo

Amy Mccaul

Leah Hempenstall

Teneisha Clarke

Amanda Seemann

Lily Veale

Grace Storey

Meike Struck

Sophie Detering

Kylee Akl

Ashleigh Lawrence

Olivia Hall

Ellie Tepe

Deborah Whitby

Abby Evans

Stephanie Bonello

Rhiannon Farrell

Renae Small

Katelyn Ball

Bronte Lockwood

Sarah Boevink

Catherine Carew

Petrina Woodthorpe

Patricia Batara

Caitlin Baldwin

Lauren Hagarty

Clare Vandenbroucke

Georgia Reilly

Julia McPhee

Daniel Jones

Mikaila Hicks

Lana Shaba

Bronwen Crickmore

Isabella Godfrey

Jordan Jayasinghe

Crystal Knowles

Molly Pitcher

Natasha Vella

Matthew Paton

Daniel Danielo

Anne Louise Walters

Caitlin Williams

Marnie McColl

Emily Dimtsis

Paige Kimmince

Rachel Barker

Leah Ingram

Martha Pace

Markian Stefanychyn

Stephanie Stabile

Sarah Walsh

Crystal Borg

Georgina Eadie

Bronte Allan

Alana Lucca

Priscilla Sangster

Hannah Lang

Kate Redmond

Paige Ryan

Kate Fordham

Fiona Byrne

Sarah Black

Claire Toomey

Chelsea Ireland

Gregory Ivory

Elizabeth Wallis

Lisa O'Donohue

Craig Joseph

Jennifer Ghiraldelli

Eliza Dean

Bryce Hill

Krista Webb

Brydie Parle

Jessica Micallef

Kayla Murray

Asma Merchant

Kaitlan Hickenbotham

Jessica Lever

Timothy Staude

Kiera Quinn

Sophie Morley

Elizabeth Schiavo

Nicholas Fengaros

Grace Ashwin

Adam Santangelo-Szlek

Ryan Wearne

Holly Veitch

Natalie Giarratano

Sophia Goustavsky

Veronica Pangrazio

Polly McCauley

Beth Patterson

Tahlia Dearden

Carly Salmon

Breanna Corbo

Tina Storey

Kate Shumack Ross

Cassie Wilson

Tayla Corbo

Emily Conway

Adele Mancin

Benjamin Afif

Sabashnee Naidoo

William Rylance

Caitlin Zadravec

David Voglis

Anthony Batch

Isabella Phillips

Nigel McCord

Joanna Rutkin

Melahrini Balassis

Nicholas Sinclair

Anne Go

Leah Bensted

Madelaine Cadzow

Deanna Fimiani

Julia McGregor

Caitlin Robie

Grace Gibbons

Tanaha Holden

Alastair Hare

Harry Grentell

Rebecca Macdonald

Melissa Saunders

Rhian Foster

Aaron Lavell

Chase Andrews

Stephanie Cross

Melanie van der Spek

Amelia Macafee

Rebecca Caltabiano

Anastasia Kydas

Elise Cecchin

Katelin Anderson

Jonathan Maurer

Robyn Cosgrove

Alicia Camilleri

Christine Saliba

Ashleigh O'Brien

Renee Schmidhauser

Jasmine Wilton

Tia Sandilands

Chloe Folling

Natisha Ford

Madeleine Bux

Taylah Moschetti

Tanna Draper Nagas

Maddison Lundh

Casey Walmsley

Tahnee Fisher

Aaron Scholz

Natalie Saunders

Stephanie Campbell

Jasmin Mathews

Tristan Lawler

Alexandra Belcastro

Ana-Louise Vella

Mikaela Borg

Margaret Raffoul

Lauren Azzopardi

Khodr Obeid

Sonja Zezovska

Cameron McBride

Kirsten Janbroers

Matilda Austin

Ella Moro

Sabrina Bignoux

Chloe Ioannidis

Alycia Morrow

Nicholas Bailey

Jessica Perry

Sasha Salzano

Annemarie Gullaci

Isabel Rich

Nicholas Madden

Marie Pintarich

Dayna Watt

Carley Thorpe

Jacinta Formoso

Stefan Subasic

Vanessa Chadwick

Alexandra Nematalla

Linda Skerman

Clarissa Shen Yee Leong

Dominique Hagan

Kelsey Rickman

Madison Lenihan

Veronica Casha

Thomas Hahne

Matilda Scott

Cameron Cole

Monika Ramzy

Charlotte Warner

Ethan Ison

Georgia Foti

Emily Keogh

Melissa Gullifa

Seamus Fillmore

Courtney Sprenger

Joanna Bach

Catherine Adams

Sunny Vincent

Georgia Houlihan

Emer Buckingham

Abbey Zito

Michelle Drake

Alisa Romboy

Lili Braidner

Simone Bertolin

Akanksha Malhotra

Emma Dodwell

Yami Shah

Amy Hughes

Charlotte Fitzsimons

Pham Nguyen

Laura Ibrahim

Chau Anh Nguyen

Hannah Taylor

Chelsea Cook

Elizabeth Azzopardi

Nicholas Elliott

Elisabeth Marriner

Jane Allen

Benjamin Wood

Dominique Powe

Sarah Giannone

Sofia Anne Pefianco

Brigitte Kelleher

Tilly Keenan

Claudia Stafrace

Danielle Horvat

Robert Gascard

Stephanie Elkington

Michaela Warren

Anna Vandenbroucke

Riley Martin

Caitlin Crowe

Claudia Barresi

Marguerite Metaxas

Georgia Tankey

Luke Condon

Christopher Reynolds

Nathan Pegg

Erin Carter

Justin Condo

Chloe Hicks

Sarah Richardson

Jacinta Heywood

Maddison Fiorelli

Mikaela Hamence

Emily Lace

Kara Olsen

Teaching Excellence Awards

Five Teaching Excellence Awards were conferred in 2021 – to Mr Paul Chalkley, Associate Professor Michael Griffith, Dr Kathleen McGuire, Dr Michelle Black and in a Team category, Dr Margaret Hutchison & Dr Jon Piccini.

Dr Margaret Hutchison & Dr Jon Piccini (Team category)

Our teaching team consisted of Dr Hutchison and Dr Piccini. In 2020, we collaboratively redeveloped the capstone unit (HIST308) for History on the Brisbane campus, in consultation with colleagues in the National School of Arts. We seized the expansion of Historical Studies staff on the campus as an opportunity to engage with students more deeply and to bring them a sense of connection with us as teachers and scholars. Our aim was to not only build students’ skills and knowledge in historical methods and theories, but to do so in a way that responded to the specific needs of the Brisbane cohort. By introducing new content, delivery methods, and assessments, we have developed a unit that inspires students to pursue their own intellectual interests and supports their independent learning. Over the past two years, we have reflected on these changes, adapting and revising the unit to improve students’ leaning experience.

Mr Paul Chalkley

Paul Chalkley is a teaching focused lecturer in youth work who has taught at ACU since 2010. As a result of the global pandemic, 2020 and 2021 saw significant disruption to social, personal and academic life. In this time of rapid change, transitioning to online teaching and responding to an ever-changing tertiary education landscape, it was imperative to capture, engage and motivate students. Paul extended on developments made in recent years to create a relevant and engaging learning environment strategically and deliberately. This targeted approach specifically focusing on Youth Work students intended to connect them deeply to a sense of professional identity and career development that fosters retention and contributes to work-ready graduates.

Associate Professor Michael Griffith

My teaching area is English Literature, specifically Australian Literature (with a specific focus on poetry and indigenous writing) English Literature (from Beowulf to the 21st Century), American Literature (including Native American Indian). I have been teaching in this discipline for 51 years, first at Marist Brother’s NorthShore (1970-72), then at the University of Sydney (1973-1976) and since 1977, for 44 years, at ACU and its predecessor college CCES. I have taught literature to ACU undergraduates, post-graduates and to the marginalized communities that attend our Clemente Program. My specific teaching and research interests are the intersection between literature (especially poetry) and spirituality. All my teaching has been driven by the wish to make students aware of how literature can nurture our spiritual experience and understanding.

Dr Kathleen McGuire

When commencing at ACU, I brought 33 years of international experience as an educator and arts professional. This encompassed primary, secondary and tertiary teaching, leadership of major arts organisations, collaborations with multiple entities, and fulfillment of sizeable grants. This background underpinned my focus on professional experience (PEX) opportunities for ACU’s pre-service teachers (PSTs). Successful PEX placements are essential in Initial Teacher Education (ITE), yet I have witnesses for several years the detrimental impact of delayed placements (attributed to professional staff turnover followed by COVID-19). For PSTs, such delays can manifest in high anxiety, low morale and even course withdrawal. Addressing these concerns, I adopted reflective approaches to my teaching. The result was an expansion of placement-relevant content in my PEX units and, to mitigate placement delays, development of a raft of innovative PEX opportunities. These advancements led to further innovations – supported by research – for ACU’s new national PEX units.

Dr Michelle Black

I am a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the ACU Strathfield campus. My expertise is in health sociology, and I teach SOCS235 Health, Illness and Wellbeing and SOCS243 Global Health and in 2021, I commenced teaching the Capstone unit GLST305 Global Studies Research project. Teaching in global studies has extended my innate interest in the social impacts of global events on human behavior the interconnectivity of our ‘global village’ and in global citizenship and activism. In March 2020 I assumed a Leadership role as National Course Coordinator (NCC) for the Bachelor of Global Studies and the Bachelor of International Development Studies (BIDS). As NCC I oversee curriculum development and implementation and in 2021, the curtailment of overseas travel led to my redesigning the Global Studies International experience program to incorporate an innovative virtual (remote) internship program. This application is focused on my leadership and management of the Global Studies International Internship unit, GLST300.

Teaching Excellence Awards

Four Teaching Excellence Awards were conferred in 2020 - to Dr Ann Holt, Dr Thu Ngo, Dr Xiaoying Qi, and in a Team category, Dr Joanna Winchester, Mrs Chrissy Monteleone and Dr David Lee.

Dr Ann Holt

I am a passionate and committed visual artist and Lecturer specializing in the disciplines of painting and drawing with extensive experience in subject coordination, scholarship, and research. I have held numerous appointments at several Art Schools in the university sector over the past twenty years I am Lecturer in Charge for the Painting and Drawing undergraduate units at ACU, a position I have held for thirteen years. I am also a Lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne, where I prepare and present Lecturers, and teach both semester and intensive programs. My skill in delivering dynamic, studio-based art programs has been recognised in SELT surveys and further evidenced in the retention rates. I aim to incorporate innovative methods based on my professional practice that inspire students to achieve excellence, whilst actively promoting individual development, confidence, and independence in learning.

Dr Thu Ngo

My main teaching area is Primary Literacy Education. Since my employment at ACU in January 2017, I have been in charge of two very large consecutive core Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) Literacy units in the B.Ed Primary program (EDLA241 and EDLA342) across Strathfield and North Sydney campuses, involving the dominant proportion of ACU enrolments. My leadership of the two units, over a sustained period of time, has allowed me to restructure the sequence of the whole teaching content in Primary Literacy Education, develop new resources incorporating innovative research-informed content and pedagogical knowledge, utilizing digital technology in literacy education in a meaningful way. In this application I would like to showcase my outstanding innovative development of curricula and resources with special focus on EDLA342, the second unit in the suite of B.Ed Primary core units that witnesses an impressive increase in the SELT data from 3.94 in 2017 to 4.88 in 2019.

Dr Xiaoying Qi

I am a sociologist. I have been a LIC, Lecturer and Tutor for SOCS207, SOCS208, SOCS300 and POLS211. Through my creating a caring, positive and effective learning environment I motivate students to engage in discussion, improve their performance, and strive for achievement of their best. By providing students with a thorough grounding in sociological theories and concepts, as well as a broad knowledge of the field, I cultivate students’ appreciation of cutting-edge developments in sociology. By discussing ideas that students tend to regard as counter intuitive, I challenge accepted ways of thinking and expand their imagination. I encourage students to appreciate the value of critical and creative thinking and show them how to be critical and creative in their own thinking. Through my connecting intellectual substance with current issues, students investigate the realities that underpin their own concerns and the socially based needs and purposes that engage students with the real world.

Dr Joanna Winchester, Mrs Chrissy Monteleone, Dr David Lee (Team category)

This award is in recognition of the outstanding contribution of a team of teachers in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) who continue to innovate, develop, assess and refine models which produces exceptional performance of PSTs across sequential, professional experience units (EDFX241, EDFX242, EDFX343, EDFX444, EDFD452). Dr. Joanna Winchester who has been teaching at ACU since 2009 and has contributed to professional experience through leadership roles and teaching. Joanna has completed research with pre-service teachers (PSTs) in special education contexts. Mrs. Chrissy Monteleone has been at ACU since 2008, leads professional experience partnerships and has taught professional experience units. Chrissy has engaged in research on mentoring and PST development in schools. Dr. David Lee has been teaching in professional experience units at ACU since 2010 including the Teaching and Learning Consortium, in partnership with schools. David has researched the influence of relationships in professional experience.

Teaching Excellence Awards

There were no awards in 2019

Teaching Excellence Awards

Four Teaching Excellence Awards were conferred in 2018 - to Dr Joanne Harris, Mr Alasdair Macintyre, Ms Sarah Nailer and Dr Joanna Winchester.

Dr Joanne Harris

I am passionate about the importance of a quality music education for all. Music makes a unique contribution to the lives of children and young people, to their learning, and to their ability to be creative thinkers. This knowledge of the powerful effects of learning music is the basis of my commitment to the pedagogy of music across all Education programs at ACU. I aim to instil a love of music in my students, building their confidence and capacity to teach music through sharing my passion and engaging them in carefully scaffolded, fun learning activities. My approach is based on experiential learning, developing understanding through active experience, modelling music pedagogies which students collaboratively engage in and critically reflect upon, and employing mastery tasks which enhance self-efficacy. I develop graduates who are 'classroom­ready' - possessing the skills, conceptual understandings and knowledge of effective pedagogies to provide developmental learning opportunities for their classes.

Mr Alasdair Macintyre

Alasdair Macintyre is a practising artist and has been lecturing in the visual arts at the Australian Catholic University for the last 12 years. Prior to this he taught art at Catholic schools (after completing a Dip. Ed. At ACU in 1995) and in the TAFE system, as well as conducting many workshops and artist talks in public galleries such as the QLD Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Australia, and the Australian National University. In his time at ACU, he has worked principally in the School of Arts, but has also taught for the School of Education, Equity Pathways, and the Clemente program. Alasdair is constantly seeking ways of improving learning outcomes for visual arts students, and he actively engages with new technologies and supportive teaching methods.

Ms Sarah Nailer

Over the past 6 years at ACU I have been involved in research, teaching and publications in connection with the Catholic Teacher Education Consortium, a School-University Partnership. It is through innovation, leadership and scholarship, particularly as part of the partnership that I have been able to promote an enhanced student experience in the Faculty. I have maintained my connection with the teaching profession and intend to continue my work at ACU as well as teaching part-time in a partner school in 2019. My passion for teaching and my partnership work with schools has enabled me to teach my students effectively and take an active part in their induction into the profession. I have brought my commitment to equity in education and catering for a diverse range of students to my teaching across a range of education studies units.

Dr Joanna Winchester

I have been employed since 2009 as a lecturer in Drama education, and have taught in the Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary courses. I am LIC of numerous units including Creative Arts units in the Primary Bachelor and Master courses, the elective Drama units, and LIC of the Drama CPA units. The success of my leadership in teaching has led to leadership roles including National Professional Experience Coordinator for Primary/EC in the Faculty of Education and Arts. I employ high quality learning and teaching that encourages pre-service teachers to consider themselves as learners in a group context, capable of producing quality group work as an ensemble of learners. In an era of individualised learning, my approach enhances students’ knowledge of group process and quality product. My capacity to engage students in practice that enhances their knowledge of performing arts and its educative purpose is a skilled part of my teaching.

Teaching Excellence Awards

Four Teaching Excellence Awards were conferred in 2017 - to Dr Aisling O'Donnell, Dr Belinda von Mengersen, Ms Elvis Richardson and Dr Robyn Bentley-Williams.

Dr Aisling O'Donnell - Aisling's nomination illustrates her excellent work as a teacher and her work is reflective of an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to teaching, combining contemporary problem-oriented analysis, theoretical rigor and critical pedagogy.  Her teaching is strongly student-centred and technologically dynamic.

Dr Belinda von Mengersen - Belinda's award highlights her approach to the development of real-world, high-stakes learning experiences and assessments that are consistently designed to foster multidisciplinary, collaborative solutions to design problems, to inspire in education students deep understanding of textiles' capacity to adapt.  Her approach to student learning privileges thoughtful, ethical, and individual responses to complex realities, including inherent environmental and moral concerns.

Ms Elvis Richardson - Elvis demonstrates excellence in the creation of dynamic and authentic assessment tasks that engage students with experiences and outcomes that produce design outcomes beyond the class room.  Her approach to holistic assessment draws on her own creative and professional experiences and uses real clients as well as self-generated projects to produce meaningful design outcomes that contribute to our communities and the common good beyond the classroom.

Dr Robyn Bentley-Williams - The strength of Robyn's nomination recognizes a strong strength-based approach where see strives to build a dynamic community of learners' culture where each individual's unique perspectives are encouraged and valued, as a means of developing deep understanding on controversial, diverse socio-cultural issues influencing inclusive practice.  Her pedagogical approaches are interwoven with developing productive respectful relationships with students and colleagues.

Teaching Excellence Awards

Four Teaching Excellence  Awards were conferred in 2016 - to Dr Jann Carroll, Dr Haydn Aarons, Associate  Professor Michael Griffiths and Dr Matthew Ryan

Dr Jann Carroll - Jann’s award highlights her passion and advocacy for equipping preservice teachers who are able to demonstrate their understanding of theory, practice and critical inquiry as classroom practitioners. Jann is to be commended for the ways in which she integrates her teaching areas, research interests and constructivist pedagogy.

Dr Haydn Aarons - Haydn’s award highlights his passion and deep interest in supporting vital skill development in research methods units and inculcating the importance of scientific rigor.  His commitment to students and his enthusiasm for sociology and preparing students who are theoretically and methodologically well prepared for a range of careers in public service, community development, social policy and governance is commendable.

Associate Professor Michael Griffith - Michael’s award was strongly centred on his innovative learning and teaching for different contexts: the Clemente program for the IACE; the ACU indigenous program through Yalbalinga; the Marist Fathers’ Aquinas Academy in Sydney and for contextualizing literary studies. His focus on enhancing students’ experience with the latest technologies helping them create meaningful connections with texts, with each other and with the global knowledge environment is recognized here.

Dr Matthew Ryan - Matthew’s award draws upon his deep knowledge of the discipline of Literature, his innovative approach to designing units and assessments. A strong focus on accessibility to learning in the discipline of Literature is the guiding principle for Matthew’s teaching  practice. Central to this is his development of a pedagogy that is inclusive of students new to Literature or students who might be otherwise marginalised.

Learning Innovations Award

The 2015 Learning Innovations Award was awarded to Dr Nick Carter, Dr Duncan Cook and Dr Chris Matthew for their development and delivery of a unique interdisciplinary undergraduate field school in Rome (The History and Geography of Ancient and Modern Rome). The innovation lies in the field school's dynamic and distinctive combination of interdisciplinary and field-based study in an overseas context, and its creative mix of experiential, reflective, cooperative and problem-based learning strategies to enhance the student learning experience.

Teaching Excellence Awards

Three Teaching Excellence Awards were conferred in 2015 - to Dr Jen Couch, Dr Victoria Carruthers and Dr James Marland.

Dr Jen Couch (Youth Work) - Jen's award highlights her work in challenging students to examine their own experiences and their thinking about young people, and her creative approach to developing and implementing a curriculum that provides student with insight into their future profession and the values that are required when working with marginalised young people.

Dr Victoria Carruthers (Modern and Contemporary Art History and Theory) - Victoria's award highlights her commitment to students and her knowledge and enthusiasm for student-centred approaches, as well as her innovative, empathetic and passionate approach to creating a connected curriculum. Her positive influence, motivation and inspiration to critically engage students with the world through art and visual culture is well evidenced.

Dr James Marland (Drama) - James' award was strongly centred on his creative and highly humanistic approach to supporting, inspiring and motivating students, as well as his strong critically reflective stance in cyclical curriculum development. James' approach to curriculum differentiation and the creation of a collaborative and safe learning environment is to be applauded.