More than 400 students will celebrate the completion of their studies at the Central Coast campus on Thursday 28 June and Friday 29 June.
Recognising the unique partnership between the University of Newcastle, TAFE NSW – Hunter Institute and the Central Coast Community College, students across the three institutions will gather at Ourimbah to celebrate their achievements.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Central Coast campus, Professor Stephen Crump, said graduation was a highlight of the year.
“Graduation ceremonies are a time for students to celebrate and reflect on their achievements as they enter a new stage of their lives. I congratulate them all and wish them well for the future.”
Of the 464 students graduating, 394 have completed University of Newcastle programs, 64 have completed TAFE qualifications and a further seven are graduating from the Central Coast Community College.
GRADUATION HIGHLIGHTS
► Thursday 28 June – University medallist salutes power of education
University medallist Kylie Nowalinski will praise the power of education when she addresses her peers at their graduation ceremony tomorrow.
The 38-year-old mother of two, who will graduate at the University of Newcastle’s Central Coast campus with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary), is passionate about the ability of education to change lives.
Mrs Nowalinski credits her own teachers and their positive influence for inspiring her to undertake university study after periods working in the fitness industry, marketing and event management prior to becoming a stay at home mother.
“I believe in the power of education. It is the key to creating opportunity and change in our society.”
Mrs Nowalinski, who initially doubted whether she would be capable of completing tertiary study, will receive the University Medal in recognition of her academic excellence.
“Receiving the University Medal gives me a great sense of pride and it is also great recognition of the support I experienced throughout my study. I could not have achieved this without my husband, mother and friends.”
As the graduate speaker at her ceremony, Mrs Nowalinski will share her thoughts on the importance of education and ask her peers to remember why they chose to become teachers.
“We need to remember and keep at the forefront of our minds why we chose to study teaching and that is to give young people opportunities. We need to continue learning and expanding who we are as professionals so that we always give our students our best.”
Mrs Nowalinski is teaching at Northlakes High School.
Kylie Nowalinski will graduate at the University of Newcastle's Faculty of Education and Arts ceremony at the Central Coast campus at 2pm on Thursday 28 June.
► Friday 29 June – Graduates nurse a special bond
When Jo Crowther decided to return to study after 23 years, she never expected to meet a lifelong friend and secure the job of her dreams. But that is exactly what she did.
Mrs Crowther began a Bachelor of Nursing in 2009 and during her first year of university she met fellow student, mother and trained enrolled nurse Louise Hack.
“Louise and I came from similar backgrounds and we have become very close friends. During our study there were many early morning phone calls while we were trying to finish assignments,” she said. “I had four kids and a husband to look after while I was studying so it was a challenge. Without the support from Louise and my family I could not have done it.”
Both women, who will graduate on Friday, started their careers as enrolled nurses more than two decades ago but held dreams of becoming registered nurses. Their career goals have been realised with Mrs Hack now working as a theatre nurse at Wyong Hospital and Mrs Crowther in paediatrics at Gosford Hospital.
Mrs Hack said their strong friendship, born from a desire to progress their nursing careers, has been a pleasant bonus.
“Starting university was daunting at first because I had not studied for more than 20 years. Jo and I were both returning to study as mature-aged students to pursue our individual career dreams and we just hit it off. We helped each other through and I am thrilled that we are now graduating,” she said.
Louise Hack and Jo Crowther will graduate with a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Newcastle Faculty of Health graduation ceremony at the Central Coast campus on Friday 29 June at 10am.
OCCASIONAL SPEAKERS
►Thursday 28 June
10am: Faculty of Business and Law, TAFE NSW – Hunter Institute and Central Coast Community College
Occasional Speaker: Elder in Residence Mrs Bronwyn Chambers
A passionate educator and advocate for Indigenous affairs, Mrs Bronwyn Chambers has dedicated more than three decades to improving the education of Aboriginal people. She is the Elder in Residence at the University of Newcastle’s Wollotuka Institute, based at Gibalee on the Central Coast campus, and has worked extensively across the education and health sectors as an educator and as a registered nurse.
Born in Gosford in 1955, Mrs Chambers lives on Darkinjung country near Wyong and is a descendant of the Lake Macquarie Indigenous community, the Awabakal people.
Educated at Wyong High School, Mrs Chambers obtained her NSW State Registered Nursing Certificate at St George Hospital, Kogarah in 1975. In 2004, she completed the Aboriginal Education Assistant Certificate at TAFE NSW – Hunter Institute and went on to complete further training in education fields.
As the Department of Education and Communities’ Aboriginal Education Officer at Wyong High School for 13 years, Mrs Chambers worked closely with Central Coast schools, councils and community organisations to offer an Indigenous perspective on proposed training programs and community projects.
A founding member and current Chairperson of the Darkinjung Language Group, Mrs Chambers has fought tirelessly to maintain Indigenous cultural identity for future generations.
►Thursday 28 June
2pm: Faculty of Education and Arts
Occasional Speaker: Mr Eric Jamieson
Mr Eric Jamieson has dedicated more than three decades to Australian education, with a recent focus on improving the educational engagement of students in Sydney’s western suburbs. As Principal of Plumpton High School for the past eight years, the respected educator has made a significant impact on the Mount Druitt community in Sydney’s western suburbs, connecting students from the area’s primary and secondary schools through a mentoring program.
Mr Jamieson has refocused Plumpton High, a school with a history of poor student attendance and performance, to an environment concentrated on learning and academic performance where students are inspired to be active participants in their education.
In 2010, Mr Jamieson’s passion for improving the academic performance and job prospects for students of western Sydney schools was formally recognised when he was named by the Sydney Morning Herald’s (Sydney) Magazine as one of the city’s top 100 most influential people. In 2011, Mr Jamieson received the Director-General’s Award for Outstanding leadership and the Western Sydney Regional Director’s award.
In addition to his role as Principal of Plumpton High, Mr Jamieson is acting director, Educational Measurement and School Accountability with the NSW Department of Education and is responsible for coordinating the National Assessment Program in NSW and the ACT, leading state-based school review, assessment and analysis.
►Thursday 28 June
6pm: Faculty of Science and Information and Technology; and Faculty of Education and Arts
Occasional Speaker: Mr Dave Abrahams
Mr Dave Abrahams is an online entrepreneur, regional enterprise campaigner and a media commentator operating under the alias of ‘Digital Dave’. Combining his love of sport with his natural flair for business, he joined the family's sports event company ‘People in Motion’ and started the sports publishing company ‘Training Graphics’.
In 1988, Mr Abrahams left Australia for Europe and spent 11 years in Scandinavia learning the language, history and culture. He studied information technology, business and philosophy at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
After returning to Australia in 1999, Mr Abrahams worked as an information technology and telecommunication strategist and has played a major role in the telecommunications industry at regional and national levels by authoring the NSW Central Coast Telecommunications Strategy and the Information Technology Industry Strategy 2000.
He co-founded regional IT business advocacy group ConnectIT and actively assists in attracting development funds for various start-ups projects and investments.
In 2011, Mr Abrahams was named an official federal 'Broadband Champion' through the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy. He is also the Enterprise Development Manager of social media technology website vTeam.com.au; Principal Consultant at online innovation company Organise Internet; Chairman of Regional Development Australia Central Coast; and immediate past chairman of YouthConnections.com.au, which assists young people on the Central Coast to access employment, education, training and recreational opportunities.
Mr Abrahams also lectures in project management at the University of Newcastle.
►Thursday 28 June
6pm: Faculty of Science and Information and Technology; and Faculty of Education and Arts
Occasional Speaker: Mr John Asquith
From professional beginnings as an electrician, architectural draftsman and engineer, through to his current role campaigning for the environmental sustainability of the Central Coast, Mr John Asquith has enjoyed a varied career. He is widely recognised for his contributions to environmental sustainability and wildlife conservation, as well as his volunteer services throughout the Central Coast community.
A semi-retired engineer, Mr Asquith holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Arts from Macquarie University. His professional career has centred on the utilities and telecommunications industry with roles at Black Mountain Tower in Canberra, the Electricity Commission of NSW, Pacific Power and Eraring Energy.
As Chairman of the Central Coast Community Environment Network since 1999, Mr Asquith has an intimate knowledge of the environmental issues affecting the Central Coast region. The Network is an independent community group working for ecologically sustainable development through supporting individuals and groups concerned with conservation.
In his role, Mr Asquith is responsible for ‘Land for Wildlife’, a consultation program working with 840 private landowners in NSW to manage more than 60,000 hectares of property for conservation.
Mr Asquith chairs the University of Newcastle Foundation’s Central Coast Committee and the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre.
►Friday 29 June
10am: Faculty of Health
Occasional Speaker: Emeritus Professor Clive Wright
Emeritus Professor Clive Wright is a devoted advocator, educator and researcher in the field of oral health. Throughout his extensive career, he has dedicated his time, passion and research to three main areas: child dental health, preventative dentistry and public dental health.
As Chair of the Australian Dental Council Accreditation Committee, Professor Wright led the accreditation process for the five Australian dental schools, an historic milestone in the development of Australia’s national standards in dental education. Professor Wright held numerous teaching and research positions in Wales, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, before finishing his academic career in 1997 as Professor of Preventive and Community Dentistry, and Head of the School of Dental Science, at The University of Melbourne.
He has since worked in dental public health as Director, Health Promotion and Research with Dental Health Services Victoria; Chief Advisor (Oral Health) with the Ministry of Health in Wellington, New Zealand; and Chief Dental Officer for NSW, a role he held until February this year.
►Friday 29 June
2pm: English Language and Foundation Studies Recognition of Attainment Ceremony
Occasional Speaker: Ms Leonie De Bellis
Mrs Leonie De-Bellis is a dental hygienist with a commitment to excellence in patient treatment and a career in the dental field spanning 20 years. Entering the industry as a dental assistant, Mrs De-Bellis’s passion for her community to engage in preventative oral health care grew steadily over the course of her studies. After completing the University of Newcastle’s Open Foundation program in 2004, Mrs De-Bellis enrolled in the Bachelor of Oral Health.
Since graduating in 2007, she has held the position of dental hygienist at Erina general practice, GB Dental. In 2010, Mrs De-Bellis graduated with honours from a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree program. During her studies she was appointed a clinical supervisor in the School of Health Sciences at the Central Coast campus in recognition of her advanced practical dental skills.
►Friday 29 June: The Vice-Chancellor’s School Teacher Award
A Vice-Chancellor’s School Teacher Award will be presented on Friday to a teacher who inspired a student to begin university study 20 years after leaving high school.
The award, to be presented to Henry Kendall High School teacher Mr Alan Herring, recognises the value that students and the University place on high school education experiences.
It highlights the vital role these educators play in the choices young people make about their future, including the decision to come to university. Recipients are nominated by university students in the final year of their studies and nominations are assessed by an expert panel.
Mr Herring, who teaches geography and Aboriginal studies, is recognised for his many years of encouragement and support of his students, particularly those at risk of not completing their high school education.
Nominated by nursing graduate Jo Crowther, Mr Herring’s impact on his students has persisted well after they leave high school. Mrs Crowther pursued university study three years ago after hearing that Mr Herring was still teaching and supporting students to success at school.
His hard work and dedication to teaching are extraordinary and commendable.
The Vice-Chancellor’s School Teacher Award will be presented to Mr Alan Herring at the Faculty of Health graduation ceremony at 10am Friday 29 June.
Media contact: Carmen Swadling, Media and Public Relations, on 02 4985 4276 or 0428 038 477.
