Three of UNE’s outstanding educators were recognised at the 2022 Australia Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) announced last night.
Dr Kristy O’Neill (School of Education), pictured left, Dr Bee Moss (UNE Business School), right, and Associate Professor Stuart Wark (School of Rural Medicine), all received Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. Citations are awarded in recognition of being among Australia’s most exceptional university educators.
In receiving a Citation, recipients have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to student learning through dedication to quality teaching across four broad areas, impact on the student experience; recognition by peers and the wider community; demonstrating creativity and innovation; and engaging in scholarly teaching practice. UNE’s Citation recipients represent the depth of breadth of teaching talent at UNE.
Kristy was recognised for redeveloping the Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum in the School of Education’s Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs to bring about improvements in mature-age, online student motivation, and engagement in the learning process.
Bee was recognised for successfully transforming theoretically based auditing subjects to re-engage students through story-telling and authentic practice.
Stuart was recognised for teaching and leadership roles in the development and implementation of a new medical degree as part of the Joint Medical Program between UNE and the University of Newcastle.
Kristy, Bee, and Stuart’s AAUT Citations continue UNE’s success in the Australia Awards for University Teaching, bringing the total to 27 national awards since 2012. For the 2022 round for Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, 105 nominations were received from across Australia and 59 Citations were awarded. In receiving three Citations, UNE was the most successful NSW university and placed in the top ten of universities nationwide.
Kristy, Bee, and Stuart’s successful AAUT Citation nominations are the end of a two-year journey that began with School Citation for Education Excellence nominations, progressing through Faculty and institutional levels to become UNE’s nominations for the AAUT.
Supporting our successful Citation recipients along the way were UNE colleagues who sat on the School, Faculty, and Vice-Chancellor assessor panels. At the School level, acknowledgment and thanks must go to Heads of Schools, Chairs of the various School Education Committees, and School members who served on the School Citation Assessor Committee.
At the Faculty level, acknowledgment and thanks must go to Associated Deans (Teaching and Learning), Chairs of the various School Education Committees (again), and external assessor panel members throughout the Schools and Faculties. At the Vice-Chancellor Citation level, acknowledgment and thanks must go to the Executive Principal – Education Futures, Associated Deans (Teaching and Learning) (again), Director, Academic Development, and previous AAUT Citation recipients. Special acknowledgement must also go to previous AAUT Citation recipients, Professor Jennifer Charteris (School of Education), Professor Leopold Bayerlein (UNE Business School), Associate Professor Janelle Wilkes (School of Environmental and Rural Science), and Dr Tristan Taylor (School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences), who were mentors for all UNE’s AAUT nominees.
For colleagues wishing to embark on the Citation journey, nominations for School Citations for Education Excellence will be opening soon.
Written by Mitchell Parkes – UNE Associate Professor, Academic Development