STEPHEN GARRETT

Mr Stephen Garrett knows the value of a good education, having spent over 20 years in the education system in Australia and abroad. He has held the position of Principal in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high schools in Cape York and on Thursday Island for 12 years, and was Director of International Schools in Papua New Guinea for 7 years. 

A Bachelor of Science (Honours) 1979 graduate, he was appointed Consul (Education) in 2006, representing the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Training to the Ministries of 14 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

Based in Dubai, he is thoroughly enjoying this role.

“Working in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Libya and the likes is simply exhilarating,” Mr Garrett said.

But he hasn’t forgotten his time studying at the University of Newcastle, appreciating the value that his honours year added to his thirst for learning.

“I enjoyed my honours year as the learning process, the outcome and the level of achievement was entirely in my own hands. In particular, I enjoyed the camaraderie that Professor Barry Boettcher engendered within his research students and the flexibility that supervisors displayed in working with their students. Being responsible for designing an individual learning/research process is a wonderful experience for anyone about to enter the working world. University study and life is about the process; never get fooled that it is only about the product.”