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Inspiring for lifelong impact
Ahead of World Teachers’ Day, which is celebrated in Queensland on October 27, TAFE Queensland educators are being recognized for their exceptional support of their students. Sally Carvill is one such teacher who was recently acknowledged for her innovative teaching approach at the AMEP 75th Anniversary Conference Awards.
Pictured Sally Carvill (right) with Tourism Career course graduate Atu (left)
Sally embarked on her teaching journey after realizing a stark contrast between her own childhood experiences and those of diverse communities. Growing up with parents who worked in supportive roles with members of different communities, such as migrants, Indigenous Australians, and people with disabilities, Sally was driven by a strong desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Her efforts were focused on empowering people with the necessary skills to achieve their dreams.
“I guess it comes down to my love of helping people and my love of education. I love learning from different people, their experiences and then helping them to achieve their goals any way I can.”
From those formative experiences as a child, Sally began teaching in Indigenous communities until moving to Cairns where she was offered a position with the Adult Migrant English Program, at TAFE Queensland.
The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is a free service that assists eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants, who have low levels of English proficiency, to improve their English language skills and settle in Australia.
“I was drawn to the AMEP, as there was a real need to help people settle into Australia in a self-determined way. I could help them achieve what they want to achieve, to be a part of the Australian community.”
Sally's exceptional passion for helping others and her ability to carefully listen to her students' needs have made her a highly successful teacher. Her commitment to creating personalized teaching strategies and resources has truly made a significant difference in the lives of her students.
Her dedication and investment in her students was recently recognized at the 2023 AMEP 75th Anniversary Conference awards, where she was presented with the Excellence Award for Innovation. Her achievement is a testament to her hard work, passion, and commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
The award recognized her innovative teaching approach and the successful Work Ready initiative she co-developed with the Brisbane Airport Hotels Group (BAHG).
The initiative was created to provide a collaborative training opportunity that would support the recovery of the tourism industry post-COVID-19. Additionally, the course would help AMEP students acquire essential English language proficiency, workplace communication skills, work health and safety knowledge and ensure that they were well-prepared for their work placements.
“We quickly realised there was a unique opportunity here to match unprecedented recruitment needs with students who are so eager to get their foot in the door. For migrants and refugees, finding that first job in Australia can be remarkably difficult. They’re dealing with language barriers, a different workplace culture, and no local references to offer.”
The course delivers industry-specific vocabulary, internal processes, workplace culture, and hands-on industry-related activities. These activities allow students to apply their knowledge in real-world situations and develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
The course received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students and BAHG, with most students receiving job offers upon completion. Overall, the Tourism Career Course has proven to be a valuable opportunity to improve professional skills and succeed in the Tourism industry.
Although Sally was individually recognized for her part in the course creation, she felt that the award was a symbol of the collective effort of all the members of TAFE Queensland, as well as a reflection of the students themselves. It is her sense of being a part of that community that drives her to continue planning the next best lesson.
“You know we’re working with adults. These are people with a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and skills. They have so much to contribute to Australian society and whatever way I can support them, whether that be in opening doors, or helping them to feel confident and part of the community. I’ll do whatever I can.”