My career commenced with the Trained Primary Teachers' Certificate at Melbourne Teachers' College (Melbourne University) in 1959 / 60. Following this I taught at a number of primary schools in the northern and eastern suburbs before returning to M.T.C. in 1967 to undertake the Trained Special Teachers' Certificate. In 1968 / 691 taught at Mitcham Special School (Heatherwood School) for intellectually disabled students.
In 1970,1 was seconded to the Kew Demonstration Unit, a facility providing professional development for classroom teachers and in 1971 1 was invited to establish a new concept, the Special Education Unit. This involved providing a consultancy service to teachers enabling them to more effectively cater for students with learning problems.
I was fortunate to be granted fulltime study leave, in 1974 / 75, to undertake the first Bachelor of Special Education at Monash University. I continued my academic studies and completed a Bachelor of Education (1981) and a Masters Degree (1985 ) both at Monash University. This was followed by a Regional appointment to the position of Eastern Regional Special Education Officer to provide support to specialist schools and facilities.
I returned to schools in 1977 as Assistant Principal at Vermont South Special School for two years and Dandenong Special School ( Emerson School for intellectually disabled students ) for five years.
My principalship commenced at Mitcham Special School in 1982 and I gained promotion to Glenallen School for physically disabled students in 1985.
During the Glenallen period I was the Specialist Schools Principal representative on committees involved in significant Education Department changes. These included intake one of the Schools of the Future Program, the establishment of the School Global Budget and to develop the Student Resource Index. These programs were instrumental in the way Specialist schools received their funding. As a member of these committees I was privileged to be part of a team to visit Edmonton, Canada for the purpose of investigating their funding models.
I retired in 2005 after 21 satisfying and challenging years at Glenallen School.
I was fortunate to be accorded various opportunities and acknowledgements which enhanced my career.
Professional Acknowledgements:
1991 Recipient Statewide Curriculum Innovations Award.
1995 Member of Australian Council for Educational Administration.