Education students celebrate course completion

Close to 130 Education (Primary and Middle Schooling) students and their families gathered across USQ’s three campuses last week to celebrate their new status as qualified educators.

The fourth annual BPMU (Bachelor of Education Primary and Middle Schooling) celebration ceremony, held on October 27, acknowledged the successful completion of the students’ Internship suite of courses.

New graduate Jessica Faulkner, who plans to work in Toowoomba as a supply teacher before travelling and teaching in the United Kingdom, said she was confident her studies had prepared her for a rewarding career in the education sector.

'USQ has given me everything that it can to prepare me for this journey,' Jessica said.

'The course has given me the theoretical knowledge and background, so when I go into schools I’ve got back-up details and understanding. The lecturers have been absolutely amazing; they don’t lecture you as such, they make conversation with you.'

During the ceremony USQ Springfield celebrated by hosting a professional development conference for their students. Toowoomba Director of Catholic Education, Mr John Borserio, gave a special address to the students at the USQ Toowoomba and Fraser Coast. Tracy Hudson-James, Principal Human Resource Consultant for Education Queensland on the Darling Downs-South West Queensland, provided recruitment information.

Independent Education Union Australia Lead Organiser, Mr Nick Holliday, said the event was a great opportunity to talk to newly graduating students, as well as provide them with information and resources to help prepare them for a career in teaching.

'We get to know students through associate memberships while they are USQ students, which equips them for finding a job, understanding conditions in the education sector and essentially beginning their teaching career,' Mr Holliday said.

Faculty of Education Dean and Academic Programs Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nita Temmerman, advised the graduating students to 'inspire and motivate young people to learn; to ensure they gain valuable knowledge, skills and understandings that will help them lead fulfilled lives'.

'It is a privilege as well as a huge and rewarding responsibility being a teacher,' Professor Temmerman said.

'Our job in these four short years you have been at USQ has been to support you to become the best beginning educators you can be.'