UNE School of Education

25/05/2026

Graduating with a Bachelor of Education (Secondary Arts), mother-of-five Crystal Primmer says she “feels an overwhelming sense of pride” in achieving her childhood dream, and in everything it took to get there ...

“As a little girl, I would sit my sister Katie down in our small lounge room and insist she play ‘schools’ with me for hours,” Crystal says. “I was always the teacher and while she often lost interest, I never did. I loved it; instinctively, it felt like where I belonged,” she says.

“After I left school, I went straight into the workforce, married the love of my life and I had our first beautiful daughter at 24. Uni seemed unattainable and my dreams of becoming a teacher drifted into the background.”

Crystal had a role in administration, “just working to pay the bills”, when Katie tragically died by su***de. Then, just three years later, shortly after the birth of her third child, Crystal was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer.

“From that moment, everything changed. What followed was surgery and six months of physically and emotionally exhausting chemotherapy while I continued to raise our young children. Yet, through that experience, something became undeniably clear: life is fragile and too short not to chase your dreams.”

So, at the age of 32, Crystal embraced the flexibility UNE offered to pursue her long-held teaching ambitions.

“My family had always come first, so this was not easy. I studied while breastfeeding. I wrote essays late at night when the kids were in bed. I listened to lectures in the car during school pick-ups. I just fitted my studies in wherever I could because I knew it was what I wanted and needed to do.”

20/05/2026

“I saw it as a great opportunity to grow professionally and try something new" - high school science teacher Tara Green was awarded the 2025 NSW Premier’s University of New England STEM and Technology Scholarship.

Passionate about geology and geotourism, Tara was able to plan a five-week study tour itinerary and visit a range of exciting locations around Western Australia, Northern Territory and some local sites in Sydney to finish, to strengthen her teaching programs.

“My tour included many stops, as I was on the move almost daily,” she said.

“A standout was the Pinnacles Desert in Nambung WA. It was surreal to be there and appreciate the geological events that had to occur over tens of thousands of years for these structures to be present today.

“For the traditional custodians of the land, the Noongar people, the Pinnacles have a more spiritual and sacred meaning as they warn against the dangers of the desert environment and shifting sand dunes.”

“I’d been wanting to visit key Australian sites linked to the Earth and Environmental Science course, like the stromatolites at Shark Bay, which are considered ‘living fossils’, and to deepen my understanding of First Nations science and conservation practices across Australia.

“The experience really confirmed what I love about teaching, especially creating engaging, real-world learning opportunities for students, and it reinforced how valuable networking and collaboration are.”

There are a range of NSW Premiers Teacher Scholarships available each year – including the NSW Premier’s University of New England STEM and Technology Scholarship, worth up to $15,000 for travel in Australia or abroad.

“If you have a passion or an area of professional learning you want to explore, it’s worth putting in the time to develop a clear and achievable research proposal,” Tara says. “Think carefully about how to make the most of the funding available. It’s definitely worth applying, and you’re supported throughout the process."

13/05/2026

Students today, teachers tomorrow!

We were proud to host 110 high school students from our region and across NSW who are considering a teaching career, helping them gain important insights and skills in teaching over a full day, before sending them out to local schools to teach year 5 and 6 students an interactive STEM lesson! We loved the enthusiasm and dedication the students brought 👏

30/04/2026

We try to take both the positive and negative feedback on board ... thanks for sharing your student feedback for Dr Joshua Matthews, Dr Mutuota Kigotho and A/Prof Brendan Jacobs!

30/04/2026

23/04/2026

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but even as an experienced school principal, UNE alum Ian Worley recently found himself back in learning mode.

In front of 3 million people.

With a sometimes very unhelpful assistant.

On the ABC TV program, Ian and other rookie trainers prepared their working dogs to compete for the title of Muster Dogs champion.

Training his kelpie Buruma over the course of a year, around his job, Ian was learning on the go in full view of a national audience.

“I learnt a lot about patience and controlling your emotions – you can’t fake it around animals – and it was revitalising to be doing something new," he says.

Ian had a ready-made cheer squad: the students of Quirindi High School where he's principal, fellow graduates of Tamworth High School, and his cohort from Earle Page College where he and future wife Nicola met.

“It was one of the greatest times in my life and I recommend college living to anyone heading off to university,” he says.

Safe to say, though, that the learning didn't stop at UNE! Ian's story - link in comments.

12/04/2026

“I felt at home in the classroom”

UNE education alumni Jane Boyle reflects on her journey to becoming a teacher … and the fulfilling career she’s found since …

Even growing up in regional Australia, Jane had far more opportunities available to her than the previous generation. But just like her mother, she was drawn to a career in teaching – and has found a fulfilling career in education, research and advocating for students in adversity. She says:

“Growing up in East Gippsland as the daughter of a farmer and a primary school teacher, I learned early about the value of education and the importance of opportunity.

“From an early age, my mother encouraged me to read widely.

“My mother’s awareness of the importance of literacy arose from her own experience as an educator and driven by the lack of opportunities she had been given. Not all women in regional Victoria of that age had been to university, and she was keen to encourage her own children to take up such an opportunity in the future.

“My mother grew up in Fernbank, a small town over four hours outside of Melbourne with a population of 152. A degree in education was free and realistically the only option for her (and many others) given the distance from Melbourne.

“When I began considering attending university a generation later, the landscape had shifted. The range of options was broad. Courses were not limited in style or type.

“At the conclusion of my bachelor's degree, my mother suggested supplementing the degree with a graduate diploma in education; "How about working as a teacher?" This option seemed stable, interesting, and familiar. My first placement confirmed this, I felt at home in the classroom and confident.

“The range of school experiences over the years, as well as the various leadership roles I have held, provided numerous opportunities for growth as an educator. Working in wellbeing across a variety of school settings highlighted for me the need for strong connections between the student, family and teacher. A growing understanding of what truly motivates students led me to undertake a Master of Education (Research) at UNE.

"I began exploring how behaviour is perceived in the classroom using a combined conceptual approach of Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Theory (1995) and Amartya Sen's Capability Theory (1997). It represented much of my journey through my life in learning and teaching.

“Upon completion of this research, I began working at UNE with pre-service teachers. In this role, I brought my experiences and knowledge to many students returning to study after extended time away, changing careers, or studying from regional locations. As a recent student myself, I understand the complexities of studying, working and receiving feedback.

“I began a PhD in March 2024 investigating how psychosocial interventions motivate secondary students in STEM subjects. My research aims to encourage female participation in STEM with a focus on students in regional locations. The ideas here circle back to what I saw as a student in regional Victoria and the opportunities I was given. I am working with six schools across Victoria with a program that features female role models working in STEM subjects with students making goals for their future in STEM.

“For current teachers wishing to undertake research and further study to enhance your professional opportunities and expand your knowledge, the opportunities abound. Understanding how to obtain evidence through research from our students provides us with knowledge and opportunity.

“Offering our time in the classroom to researchers both contributes to our knowledge in education and informs our practice in the classroom. It also gives our students accessible, equitable education.”

07/04/2026

Even from afar, adults and children alike can be experiencing the impacts and anxiety of the conflict in the Middle East.

Compounding her fears for the safety of her family and the future of her homeland, Iranian-born UNE early childhood lecturer and mother of two Somayeh Ba Akhlagh says exposure to conflict can have far-reaching impacts on young children. But, she says, there are things parents and educators can do to protect children.

“From birth to eight years is a critical stage in a child’s development, when they are shaped by their experiences and social and cultural circumstances,” says Somayeh.

“Exposure to conflict, displacement and trauma can significantly influence children’s emotional wellbeing, learning and development.

“In addition to the children caught in the conflict at direct potential harm, we also have children all over the world seeing and hearing about the war and struggling to understand it.”

“Even in the shadow of war, we can choose calm, caring and conscious conversations that nurture children’s sense of safety, hope and shared humanity in an uncertain world.”

Read more at the link in the comments.

27/03/2026

A tree change has offered much more than green space to experienced teacher and educator Beth Boland.

After living in Sydney and five years in Jakarta, Beth and her young family moved to Tamworth, her husband’s hometown, during the pandemic.

In search of a new challenge while being a stay-at-home mum, Beth wheeled her pram into UNE Tamworth one day, looking for any job going.

Landing a job as Academic Skills Coordinator, she enjoyed supporting and getting to know the university and Tamworth community. Now, she’s a lecturer in Early Childhood and Primary Education and undertaking a PhD with the goals to research and improve the literacy rates and interest in reading in the Tamworth region.

“Moving to Tamworth after growing up in Sydney and then living in Jakarta has been really different,” she says.

“I love Tamworth, and I have a strong sense of purpose in being here and commitment to the place. I’m enjoying seeing the unique strengths and differences that are here, and drawing on those strengths.”

Beth says she’s also excited to see UNE Tamworth change and grow.

“I’ve seen our presence grow over the past three years from the space we’re working from now, seeing more and more students come on campus and hearing people in the Tamworth community talking about UNE Tamworth more and more.

“I’m super excited for the new campus, because it will provide for us expansion upon what’s already happening – further opportunities and spaces to support our students and to network with community.”

As a “very social” person, Beth has enjoyed the increasing interactions and engagement happening at UNE in Tamworth.

“I think community partnerships is a really crucial component of what we’re trying to do here and building connections with the industry, which is why I’m very excited about my PhD, because there’s a natural partnership with community in doing that.”

Overall, Beth remains passionate about classroom teaching and literacy, with the classroom always pulling her back to her roots in some shape or form.

“I learn so much from teaching. There is so much satisfaction and fulfilment that comes from it.

“I’m really passionate about equipping the next generation of teachers to create positive communities in their classrooms, build children who are resilient, children who have really strong literacy skills and children who believe they can be an agent of change in the world.”

Read more about Beth’s story at the link in the comments.

24/03/2026

Q: What is colourful, user-friendly and a great way to plan out your primary school STEM lessons?

A: The SILO project website, based on ongoing UNE research, containing a collection of lessons, ideas and activities that can be used for integrating STEM education in primary schools. It links learning intentions to the NSW syllabus and Australian Curriculum outcomes, seeking to articulate essential STEM concepts and skills throughout the primary years.

The website is the brainchild of UNE’s Associate Professor Brendan Jacobs, a STEM education specialist at UNE.

A/Prof Jacobs has been exploring websites as an artefact of research since his PhD days, when he produced the world’s first multimodal PhD in education in 2015.

That research has evolved into the SILO website. And his research methods (outlined in his book ‘Digital scholarship in education: Multimodality as a window into learning – released in 2024) helps pave the way for other researchers interested in taking a digital humanities approach.

Explore the website here: https://silo.edu.au/

You can read more about A/Prof Jacobs’ research below.

Education research paves new approach in digital humanities by hcollett | Mar 23, 2026 | Uncategorized | 0 comments Image: Brendan Jacobs’ SILO website with STEM activities for primary school, based on his innovative research methods.   When it comes to innovation, Brendan Jacobs doesn’t settl...