2019 Australian Teacher Aide of the Year

Jacque Mengel

Maribyrnong Primary School, ACT

Nominated by: Anna Thorpe, Disability Education Coordinator

Jacque Mengel, a teacher aide at Maribyrnong Primary School, is the ACT Finalist in the Australian Teacher Aide of the Year Awards. 

Anna Thorpe, the Disability Education Coordinator at the school, said Jacque has been an educator with the Learning Support Unit, since 2002, and has seen more than 238 students with disability graduate. 

Jacque’s nomination highlights her integral role to student success, both within the unit, and across the whole school. She has contributed to improved student outcomes in literacy and numeracy, and improved communication between families and the school which has resulted in increased attendance for over 17 children this year. 

Jacque works closely with external agencies to maximise access to support programs and has developed enhanced individual learning plans which have ensured that all services are working towards the same targets to maximise student outcomes. She advocates for student wellbeing, actively promotes community awareness of mental health, and the development of safe spaces for students to discuss their concerns and needs.  

Jacque is also an active participant in professional learning and mentors new inclusion support team staff. Jacque has facilitated whole staff training in the So Safe program, as well as in Auslan for educators.

Allyce Day

Casuarina Street Primary School, NT

Nominated by: Elizabeth Smith, Impact Coach and Highly Accomplished Teacher

Allyce Day, a student support mentor at Casuarina Street Primary School, is the Northern Territory Finalist in the Australian Teacher Aide of the Year Awards.

Elizabeth Smith, the school’s Impact Coach and a classroom teacher, said Allyce works tirelessly to support students of all abilities and the colleagues with whom she works.

Allyce’s nomination highlights her ability to work with students with diverse needs, including Aboriginal students, students with Autism, and students with unidentified learning needs. She has built her understanding of Zones of Regulation, and used this to identify behaviour triggers and to support students to appropriately regulate their emotions. She also works with students to help them meet their reading achievements, and through her work in this area, she has supported a number of students to exceed growth expectations.

She has worked with colleagues to successfully introduce individual learning timetables that include movement breaks, sensory breaks or check-ins with staff, resulting in a student, who previously was fearful that work was too difficult, now positively engaging in learning.  She has also completed many online training courses to expand her knowledge and shares this back to staff by coaching other student support mentors to build their capacity to work with students.

Wendy Connor

Mawson Lakes School, SA

Nominated by: Sue Lemmer, Deputy Principal

Wendy Connor, a school learning support officer (SLSO) at Mawson Lakes, is the South Australian Finalist in the Australian Teacher Aide of the Year Awards.

Sue Lemmer, the Deputy Principal at the school, said Wendy has had an amazing impact on student learning and achievement over many years, providing both intervention and extension for a wide range of students.

Wendy’s nomination highlights her skills in supporting mathematics learning, where she is able to provide advice and support to teaching staff. In 2018 she was asked to present at the State Literacy and Numeracy Expo.

Wendy leads others to embrace student agency and adapts processes to ensure students are in control of their learning. She understands learners as individuals and tailors her approach to students’ learning style.  She works in class alongside teachers, and withdraws individuals and small groups of students, as well as offering drop-in sessions where students can attend for specific help with their learning.

Wendy leads innovation, is reflective of her practice, and runs training for new support staff to build consistency in how they work.  She is committed to lifelong learning and models this to others by seeking out professional development opportunities.

Donna Holman

Bellarine Secondary College, VIC

Nominated by: Barbara Luppino, PSD Coordinator - Drysdale Campus

Donna Holman, a learning mentor at Bellarine Secondary College, is the Victorian Finalist in the Australian Teacher Aide of the Year Awards.

Barbara Luppino, the PSD Coordinator at the college, said Donna is a dedicated, hardworking educator who is focused on supporting students with their learning and success in the classroom.

Donna’s nomination highlights her ability to differentiate the curriculum for students with specific needs, and her extensive knowledge of the PSD (Program for Students with Disabilities) program. Donna has recommended and helped to implement strategies such as reciprocal teaching and Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Donna is a team player, suggests ideas and different approaches, and guides staff on ways to better modify work for specific students. She believes in putting her professional learning into practice, and recently presented at a college forum about a conference on ADHD. 

Belinda Graudins

Rosny College, TAS

Nominated by: Paul Barron, Assistant Principal

Belinda has been highly commended for her contribution to student wellbeing, in particular for introducing Taiko drumming for students with disability, and the positive impact it has had on student learning and inclusion.

Bradley Kermond

Eastside Lutheran College, TAS

Nominated by: Larissa Oates, Emma Hassett, Geoff Freeman, Natalie Wardle, Kate Williams

Bradley has been highly commended for his high quality contribution to student learning and wellbeing, in particular for supporting the learning of students with diverse needs, and his contribution to Indonesian language classes. 

Damon Grimwood

Mercy College Mackay, QLD

Nominated by: Doug Bettington, Teacher

Damon has been highly commended for his positive impact on student learning and achievement, in particular for collaborating with teachers to support the learning of students with diverse needs.

Emma Swain

Goodwood Primary School, TAS

Nominated by: School Leadership Team

Emma has been highly commended for her positive impact on student learning and achievement, in particular for her contribution to student learning success as Literacy Support Intervention Aide, and for being an early adopter of change and driver of self-improvement.

Jarred Calcott

Macleay Island State School, QLD

Nominated by: Glenda Seawright, Michael Coenen, Anette Quince and Shaye Pendrigh

Jarred has been highly commended for his contribution to student learning and wellbeing, in particular for supporting students with diverse needs to feel safe, included and to experience success. At school, Jarred is known as the "Child Whisperer".

Natalie Woods

Rouse Hill Anglican College, NSW

Nominated by: Sophie Jones, Nicole Knezevic and Kristy Parker

Natalie has been highly commended for her positive impact on student learning and wellbeing, in particular for going above and beyond to support students with diverse needs.

Nicole Madsen

Triabunna District School, TAS

Nominated by: Tanya Britton, Principal

Nicole has been highly commended for her positive impact on student learning and achievement, in particular for initiating the 24 Carrot Kitchen Garden Project.

Tracey Leebody

Bremer State High School, QLD

Nominated by: Ryan Du Toit, Head of Department - Numeracy

Tracey has been highly commended for her positive impact on student learning and achievement, in particular for leadership of the Year 7-9 Junior Learning Support program, and for effectively supporting the diverse learning needs of students.

Vanessa McPherson

Runcorn Heights State School, QLD

Nominated by: Kristy Johnston, Teacher

Vanessa has been highly commended for her positive impact on student learning and wellbeing, in particular for her valuable contribution to Special Education, and for being selected to participate in a trial of a new inclusion model.