The Public Education Foundation and Teachers Mutual Bank have announced Nick Ansell, of Grovedale College, is this year’s recipient of the Public Education Foundation’s Teachers Mutual Bank Victorian Mid-Career Scholarship.
This scholarship supports public school teachers in Victoria who have been teaching for between five and fifteen years, with Teachers Mutual Bank providing $10,000 for professional development activities of the scholar’s choice. Nick will be using his scholarship to travel to Broome to deepen his knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture as part of a Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Studies.
Nick is in his fifteenth year of teaching and has observed that the public school system is one that promises an outstanding education to anyone who enrols, including the vast majority of young people experiencing disadvantage across the country. He draws upon a significant amount of passion and excitement in supporting and challenging students from every walk of life to believe in themselves and achieve their potential. This is at the core of his work and commitment to public education.
Teachers Mutual Bank’s Chief Marketing Officer Nichole Banks said, “Nick Ansell is an inspiring Victorian teacher who is committed to helping students from every walk of life to thrive. By deepening his understanding of the culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Nick is furthering his abilities to help children from all backgrounds engage with education and fulfil their potential. Over the past fifteen years Nick has demonstrated his deep and unwavering passion and enthusiasm for public education and helping marginalised and disadvantaged students succeed. He is dedicated to professional development and is committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for his students. Mid-career teachers are vital to the education industry, and we are delighted to support Nick in reaching new professional heights.”
“Nick’s drive to become a public education leader is unquestionable and can be seen in his work alongside Koori students and their families, meeting mandated Victorian Department of Education requirements, supporting his colleagues through professional development and informally through educating the student body more broadly,” Paul Somers, Public Education Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer, said. “We are delighted to be able to support Nick with his professional learning goals and support his outstanding efforts in enabling disadvantaged students.”
“I am so grateful to have received the Teachers Mutual Bank Victorian Mid-Career Scholarship which will assist me in learning even more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their history, both pre and post colonisation. Developing and sharing my understanding of First Nations history, their world view, ways of knowing, identity, diversity and cross-cultural communication will assist me in creating a more culturally inclusive environment in my own classroom as well as across our school.
“There is no question that as a society we are at a tipping point of support, acknowledgement and reconciliation with First Nations communities as we see opportunities for meaningful change and inclusion locally and nationally. My role as a public system educator places my colleagues and I at the fore of this change and this professional development will support us in this work with each other and our students now and into the future.
“Education has a significant part to play in our continued journey towards reconciliation with our First Peoples and I hope that I can play some small part in supporting my community to walk a bit further forward together on that journey.”, said scholarship winner Nick Ansell.
For more information please contact: Paul Somers, Public Education Foundation
Tel: 02 7814 2806 I Email: paul@publiceducationfoundation.org.au
Teachers Mutual Bank (TMB) came to life in 1966 when a group passionate teachers, with the shared vision to give educators and their families’ better financial options, held their first meeting as a credit union. Over 50 years on TMB has grown to one of the largest mutual banks in the country with over $9 billion in assets and over 210,000 members. However, one thing has remained constant, the Bank’s commitment to supporting its members and creating opportunities for teachers and the education community to flourish. See more details at www.tmbank.com.au.
The Public Education Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing life-changing scholarships to students and educators in public education, and enhancing the value and reputation of public education. See more details at www.publiceducationfoundation.org.au.
