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Gillian Newall has been appointed the University Partnership Lead at the ������, where she will be based on campus two days per week to give personalised career advice on teaching in NSW public schools to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The NSW Department of Education’s University Partnership Lead (UPL) roles are designed to improve the future of teaching by providing support and career opportunities for aspiring teachers across the state. The roles have been created as part of the NSW government’s where the department will work in collaboration with Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers and key stakeholders across the education landscape to support students as they commence their degree, select a career in NSW public schools and succeed in the classroom as early career teachers.

Beginning her career in public education as a high school teacher at Cherrybrook Technology High School, Newall has been with the Department of Education for more than 30 years.

“Teaching opens doors – I'm living and breathing proof of that,” she ��������.��“Teaching is a valuable career choice not only because it offers plenty of opportunities for growth, development and connection, but it allows you to directly influence the wellbeing and learning potential of your students, making it a profoundly impactful profession.

“I started off teaching in public schools, and then was able to follow different passions, including working in curriculum development and providing learning and wellbeing support in education support staff environments.

“Through my position at the ������ I want to demonstrate to students that teaching in public schools is a rewarding and varied career.”

One of the key objectives of the UPL program is to develop a pipeline of public school teachers with the skills required for successful careers. The program will also attract ITE students to the geographical areas where teachers are most needed.

“We need to strengthen the department’s connection with university students so we can enable classroom ready graduates and drive supply in areas of NSW that require more teachers,” Newall said.

Along with offering career guidance, Newall will give practical support to pre-service teachers by helping them with their professional experience placements, approval to teach applications, scholarship and program advice, and early employment opportunities in the public school system.

Tamara Trevena is studying a Master of Teaching at the ������ after many years working in construction management. She connected with Newall to secure a teaching placement in rural Australia.

"Public education is important and it helped me get to where I am now,” Trevena ��������.��

“As a child I lived on Groote Eylandt, a remote island located off the coast of the Northern Territory in the Gulf of Carpentaria. When I decided to make a career change to teaching, I toyed with the idea of returning to Groote as a pre-service teacher. I’m grateful to have been able to fulfil that dream last year when I volunteered in a year 3/4 composite class.

“With the guidance I received from Gillian through the partnership program, I secured a Rural Professional Experience Placement at Buninyong Public School in Dubbo.

"I’m excited to continue to give back to regional communities and for the opportunity to be mentored by experienced teachers facing the unique challenges of teaching in rural and remote NSW.”