Teacher stories

Teachers who have moved here, especially those in the remote parts of the Territory, say that they love the sense of adventure, the responsibility of developing the skills children need, experiencing a new culture and teaching kids from different backgrounds.

	Vanessa Haw - MacFarlane Primary School Vanessa Haw remembers making the big decision to become a teacher. “I liked food and cooking and was considering becoming a home economics teacher, but ultimately decided to become a primary teacher instead.” That decision continues to pay off for Vanessa, who derives great satisfaction from working with Indigenous children in Katherine. “Initially I came to the Territory to undertake a practicum as part of my teacher studies through LaTrobe University. The weather, the lifestyle, the friendly people and the professional environment in which I am able to develop professionally have been compelling reasons for teaching in the Territory.”

	Kym Urquhart – Alice Springs Teaching Indigenous children and helping them find a love of learning continue to be strong motivating factors for Kym Urquhart who lives and works in Alice Springs. “I enjoy working with children and the challenge of finding different ways for them to learn.” Kym attained her teaching qualification at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane before moving to Alice Springs. “It is a great place to live – a smallish town but not too small - with great weather and a laidback lifestyle.” Video: Windows Media (wmv 701Kb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 527Kb)

	Allan Skien - Ramingining A sense of adventure, a ‘travel bug’ and a preference for wide-open spaces brought Allan Skien to the Territory more than 30 years ago. “I remember being immediately accepted as a professional and trusted to get on with the job.” Currently, Allan teaches secondary Indigenous students in the remote Arnhem Land community of Ramingining. “To have contributed to the graduation of Indigenous students with Northern Territory Certificate of Education qualifications and to help them gain access to higher education and the prospects of real jobs is a wonderful way to finish my teaching career.” Video Full version: Windows Media (wmv 7.4Mb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 3.5Mb) Short clip: Windows Media (wmv 3.2Mb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 704Kb)

	Kim Hoe - Palmerston High School The Northern Territory has been the land of opportunity for Kim Hoe who was born, educated and now teaches in Palmerston. “The ability to combine my interests in science, information technology and working with young people attracted me to the teaching profession but the best thing about teaching in the Territory is the opportunities that present themselves. I have found that technologies such as the Interactive Whiteboard have been effective in engaging students and that the Schools Without Borders program has afforded me opportunities to work with a team, and this has improved my ability to teach."

	Genny Fabijan – Alice Springs “The Northern Territory offers teaching experiences and job opportunities you can’t get anywhere else,” says Genny Fabijan, who teaches special needs children in Alice Springs. The promise of long-term employment was one of the key factors in drawing Genny to The Centre. “My work is challenging and rewarding and Alice Springs is a great place to live. It has all the conveniences of a big city but without the traffic, pollution and noise. Being able to take day trips to any number of picturesque destinations such as Rainbow Valley and Palm Valley is an added advantage.”

	Hollie Kane - Palmerston High School Hollie Kane decided to move from Victoria to live and work in Outback Australia after completing her final teaching practicum in a remote Indigenous community school. "I was drawn by the idea of adventure, great pay and conditions and knew that in the NT I would have teaching experiences that were truly unique and would benefit my professional and personal development. Here at Palmerston High School I have had the opportunity to work with new technologies in the classroom, which is really exciting for both me and my students." Hollie says she has the best of both worlds. "Darwin has the friendly atmosphere of a country town with the resources and excitement of a major city. The lifestyle is really relaxed and I love it." Video: Windows Media (wmv 433Kb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 222Kb)

	Gini Ennals – Areyonga Gini Ennals works in the Central Australian Indigenous community of Areyonga as an English as a Second Language teacher. She fulfils a vital role in the community where for some of her students English is a second, third or sometimes fourth language. “The kids need to learn,” she says. “They need the opportunity to achieve their potential like every other student in Australia.” Gini regards the opportunity and challenge of working in a remote community school as a professional and personal highlight. “Being in a community has given my family and me the opportunity to learn things we couldn’t get any other way. We have learned so much about a part of Australia with knew nothing of and we have learned a lot about ourselves.” Video: Windows Media (wmv 678Kb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 473Kb)

	Philip Allnutt – Acacia Hills Alice Springs "I'm from Adelaide, born and bred. I've always loved sport and I wanted to combine sport with education so I became a PE teacher. I arrived in the Territory in 1993 to teach at Hermannsburg, a remote community in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Hermannsburg, or Ntaria as it is known, was the home of Albert Namatjira. I taught PE there before coming into Alice Springs where I'm now a Special Education teacher at Acacia Hill School. "I chose the Territory because it's a different lifestyle and Alice Springs is such a lovely little town. "Teaching in the Territory is great as there are so many opportunities to extend your teaching skills through professional development. "For me, working with indigenous kids and special needs students has been the most rewarding thing about being in the Territory."

	Shontell Dougherty – Tennant Creek High School "I’m from the Hunter Valley in NSW and I wanted to go somewhere remote where I could make a real difference in the lives of young Indigenous people. "I’ve taught in the remote community of Ali Curung, 400km from Alice Springs, and I’m now in Tennant Creek, a town in Central Australia. It’s a culture shock. It’s very different to city life but the experience of becoming part of a community is unique. If you have a passion to impact young lives and you are not afraid to go into some of the more remote parts of Australia, then this is an experience of a lifetime. "There are so many opportunities for young teachers and so many career pathways that can push you forward more quickly than on the coast." Video: Windows Media (wmv 736Kb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 449Kb)

Teacher stories archive

	Vanessa Haw - MacFarlane Primary School Vanessa Haw remembers making the big decision to become a teacher. “I liked food and cooking and was considering becoming a home economics teacher, but ultimately decided to become a primary teacher instead.” That decision continues to pay off for Vanessa, who derives great satisfaction from working with Indigenous children in Katherine. “Initially I came to the Territory to undertake a practicum as part of my teacher studies through LaTrobe University. The weather, the lifestyle, the friendly people and the professional environment in which I am able to develop professionally have been compelling reasons for teaching in the Territory.”

	Kym Urquhart – Alice Springs Teaching Indigenous children and helping them find a love of learning continue to be strong motivating factors for Kym Urquhart who lives and works in Alice Springs. “I enjoy working with children and the challenge of finding different ways for them to learn.” Kym attained her teaching qualification at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane before moving to Alice Springs. “It is a great place to live – a smallish town but not too small - with great weather and a laidback lifestyle.” Video: Windows Media (wmv 701Kb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 527Kb)

	Allan Skien - Ramingining A sense of adventure, a ‘travel bug’ and a preference for wide-open spaces brought Allan Skien to the Territory more than 30 years ago. “I remember being immediately accepted as a professional and trusted to get on with the job.” Currently, Allan teaches secondary Indigenous students in the remote Arnhem Land community of Ramingining. “To have contributed to the graduation of Indigenous students with Northern Territory Certificate of Education qualifications and to help them gain access to higher education and the prospects of real jobs is a wonderful way to finish my teaching career.” Video Full version: Windows Media (wmv 7.4Mb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 3.5Mb) Short clip: Windows Media (wmv 3.2Mb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 704Kb)

	Kim Hoe - Palmerston High School The Northern Territory has been the land of opportunity for Kim Hoe who was born, educated and now teaches in Palmerston. “The ability to combine my interests in science, information technology and working with young people attracted me to the teaching profession but the best thing about teaching in the Territory is the opportunities that present themselves. I have found that technologies such as the Interactive Whiteboard have been effective in engaging students and that the Schools Without Borders program has afforded me opportunities to work with a team, and this has improved my ability to teach."

	Genny Fabijan – Alice Springs “The Northern Territory offers teaching experiences and job opportunities you can’t get anywhere else,” says Genny Fabijan, who teaches special needs children in Alice Springs. The promise of long-term employment was one of the key factors in drawing Genny to The Centre. “My work is challenging and rewarding and Alice Springs is a great place to live. It has all the conveniences of a big city but without the traffic, pollution and noise. Being able to take day trips to any number of picturesque destinations such as Rainbow Valley and Palm Valley is an added advantage.”

	Hollie Kane - Palmerston High School Hollie Kane decided to move from Victoria to live and work in Outback Australia after completing her final teaching practicum in a remote Indigenous community school. "I was drawn by the idea of adventure, great pay and conditions and knew that in the NT I would have teaching experiences that were truly unique and would benefit my professional and personal development. Here at Palmerston High School I have had the opportunity to work with new technologies in the classroom, which is really exciting for both me and my students." Hollie says she has the best of both worlds. "Darwin has the friendly atmosphere of a country town with the resources and excitement of a major city. The lifestyle is really relaxed and I love it." Video: Windows Media (wmv 433Kb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 222Kb)

	Gini Ennals – Areyonga Gini Ennals works in the Central Australian Indigenous community of Areyonga as an English as a Second Language teacher. She fulfils a vital role in the community where for some of her students English is a second, third or sometimes fourth language. “The kids need to learn,” she says. “They need the opportunity to achieve their potential like every other student in Australia.” Gini regards the opportunity and challenge of working in a remote community school as a professional and personal highlight. “Being in a community has given my family and me the opportunity to learn things we couldn’t get any other way. We have learned so much about a part of Australia with knew nothing of and we have learned a lot about ourselves.” Video: Windows Media (wmv 678Kb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 473Kb)

	Philip Allnutt – Acacia Hills Alice Springs "I'm from Adelaide, born and bred. I've always loved sport and I wanted to combine sport with education so I became a PE teacher. I arrived in the Territory in 1993 to teach at Hermannsburg, a remote community in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Hermannsburg, or Ntaria as it is known, was the home of Albert Namatjira. I taught PE there before coming into Alice Springs where I'm now a Special Education teacher at Acacia Hill School. "I chose the Territory because it's a different lifestyle and Alice Springs is such a lovely little town. "Teaching in the Territory is great as there are so many opportunities to extend your teaching skills through professional development. "For me, working with indigenous kids and special needs students has been the most rewarding thing about being in the Territory."

	Shontell Dougherty – Tennant Creek High School "I’m from the Hunter Valley in NSW and I wanted to go somewhere remote where I could make a real difference in the lives of young Indigenous people. "I’ve taught in the remote community of Ali Curung, 400km from Alice Springs, and I’m now in Tennant Creek, a town in Central Australia. It’s a culture shock. It’s very different to city life but the experience of becoming part of a community is unique. If you have a passion to impact young lives and you are not afraid to go into some of the more remote parts of Australia, then this is an experience of a lifetime. "There are so many opportunities for young teachers and so many career pathways that can push you forward more quickly than on the coast." Video: Windows Media (wmv 736Kb) \| Quicktime Pro (mov 449Kb)