Indigenous Employment Australia Yarns with…

Tell us about you and your mob.
My name is Andrew and I am a proud Aboriginal man living on Wiradjuri country in Central West NSW in Dubbo. I have travelled around throughout my 38 years of life but the connection I feel on Wiradjuri country and family have continually brought me back.

Tell us about your career.
I am currently in my third year of teaching at a primary school in Dubbo and am currently teaching Stage 3 (Year 5 and 6 students). Year 5 and 6 is a fantastic age to teach, as a teacher you are able to have lots of conversations, lot of laughs and lots of growth preparing them for high school.

What pathway did you take to get to where you are?
I was a late bloomer into the teaching profession and university. I obtained my degree through Australian Catholic University (ACU) at Strathfield in Sydney. Through ACU they have a program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students pursuing teaching. Every 10-12 weeks we all come together for block release in which we complete a seven day intensive residential on campus. The way this is setup allows the students to come together with similar backgrounds and goals and still allows us to be able to work fulltime. I started my degree in 2014 and it took me a couple of extra years to get the degree finished graduating in 2020. 

What skills do you need to succeed in your role?
To be a great teacher you need to be honest, organised, create engaging fun lessons, show empathy, listen, be a great communicator and have lots and lots of patience. Understand that everyday students are bringing in many things to your classroom that we are unaware of, create a positive happy environment that makes them feel safe and allow them to access a fun learning and growing space.

What do you find most fulfilling about your career?
I love seeing students smile, having fun. I love seeing light bulb moments when topics or concepts finally ‘click’. It is so rewarding when you hear students from past years or from younger grades saying ‘I’m glad you were my teacher’ or ‘I want to be in your class next year’, instilling an excitement and love for learning. 

What advice would you give to fellow Indigenous individuals pursuing similar paths?
Choose a profession that makes you happy. Don’t be scared of University, I put University off for years because of the fear of the workload but know it is all worth the hard work. There are many people out there to help you in whatever profession you choose. If looking at a teaching degree, get on to ACU Strathfield Yalbalinga and just get started. 

What type of education, training, and skills are required in your field?
A four year Bachelor degree is required to become a primary school teacher. If you’re interested, don’t put it off- contact a university. At ACU the Yalbalinga program is fantastic for someone that is working or other commitments that could be stopping them taking that leap.