UWA First Year Scholars Leadership Reception

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to hear from five inspiring UWA Fogarty Scholars / alumni at the annual Reception hosted by UWA for the first year UWA Fogarty Scholars and their families.  Following remarks from Foundation Chairperson Annie Fogarty AM and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) Professor David Sadler’s, the audience was treated to a stimulating panel discussion from these five outstanding young people. 

The panel, which was facilitated ably by Fogarty Scholars’ Association President Haseeb Riaz (Cohort of 2017, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, currently studying for a Doctor of Medicine), comprised alumni:

• Harry Smallbone (BPhil (Hons) 2017 and MD 2020), who has been working at Fiona Stanley as a Resident Medical officer since the start of 2021; and
• Adehlia Ebert (BPhil(Hons) 2019 and JD 2022), who is an Associate at the Supreme Court of Western Australian and has working there since the start of 2022.  She is also a tutor at UWA; and
• Chelsea Francis (BCom 2019), who is currently employed as an Associate at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and is the Director of the Human Rights Legal Group of Western Australia  (HRLG WA) with Amnesty International Australia (whilst also completing her Juris Doctor);

and current Scholars:

• Rana Ibrahim (Cohort of 2020) who is undertaking her Bachelor of Medical Science double major in Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice; and
• Jason Lu (Cohort of 2021) who is undertaking his Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours), majoring in Engineering Science and Mathematics and Statistics.

Panellists discussed what ‘leadership’ means to them and the ways in which the Scholarship program supported them in becoming a leader.   The differences between university and high school, as well as how to set priorities, look after oneself and manage study and socialising were shared.  Amongst the wealth of advice that was provided, some tips for the first years included:

• Not confusing what you do with who you are;
• Not being afraid of failure, and if you experience failure, try to learn from it;
• Thinking about defining your ‘cause’ rather than your ‘career’ goals, which can provide more flexibility when navigating the uni years and opportunities
• Nurturing your other interests beyond uni, particularly relationships, to help keep balance and
• Enjoying doing as much as you do, as much as doing nothing at all.

Thank you so much to our UWA Fogarty Scholars and Alumni for giving their time for an event that was very well received by the first years and their families, with thanks also to UWA for hosting this great event.

The team at the Foundation are excited to see that ManUP, a venture co-founded by UWA Fogarty Scholar and current FSA President, Haseeb Riaz (Scholar 2017 – ), nominated as a finalist in the Western Australian Council of Social Service, 2023 Community Services Excellence Awards.  https://www.wacoss.org.au/news/community-services-excellence-awards-2023-finalists-announced/

ManUP is one of 4 finalists in the “small organisation providing collaborative, innovative or creative programs or services”.  Man Up aims to redefine masculinity through workshops and presentations that engage young boys in high school to investigate their ideas of masculine culture, mental health and relationships.

The Awards are a longstanding partnership between the Western Australian Council of Social Service and the Department of Communities WA, with the support of Lotterywest.  They recognise and celebrate the work of organisations and individuals in the community services sector, who have demonstrably made a positive difference to people, families, and communities through innovative and creative practice.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 1 May.  Fingers crossed!!

We were delighted to see our new alumni Racheline’s (Scholar 2019 to 2022) name included in the impressive list of 24 talented young women released in honour of International Women’s Day by Young Australians in International Affairs.  Every year the list recognises, celebrates and promotes the next generation of women achieving success and making an impact in international affairs; whether that be in government, academia, think tanks, the private sector or civil society.  Follow this link to read about Racheline and this group of outstanding young people.  https://www.youngausint.org.au/post/2023-young-women-to-watch-in-international-affairs

Racheline currently works in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where she develops policy advice for the Prime Minister on immigration, multiculturalism, settlement, and humanitarian programs to achieve the best possible outcomes for new arrivals and the Australian public.

She is the Chief Partnerships Officer of the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership and also directed ‘Where Oceans Meet’ in 2021, a charity concert featuring traditional music of the Indo-Pacific region and music written by composers of Asian descent, with proceeds donated to the Australian Red Cross Global COVID-19 Appeal.  

Racheline plays clarinet and speaks Indonesian, Mandarin, and Japanese.

Improving curriculum planning should be a national priority given the urgent challenges in Australian school education.  This approach takes the lottery out of learning, because it guarantees that all students receive common, high- quality teaching that supports them to build knowledge and skills through their school years.   The benefits of adopting a whole school curriculum can be significant.  As one Serpentine Primary School literacy leader said “We don’t miss students. You know you’re not going to get students in Year 3 that can’t read. We have high expectations, we want all kids to be at grade level.” (page 25).

Tackling this problem will require action from school leaders and teachers, as well as governments, and Catholic and independent school sector leaders.  Grattan’s 2022 report, Ending the lesson lottery: How to improve curriculum planning in schools, sets out what governments and sector leaders should do to help tackle this problem.

School leaders should not wait, however, for government action.  The new Grattan Guide (insert link to PDF) sets out practical steps they can take now to establish an effective whole-school approach to curriculum planning.  

The Guide draws on lessons Grattan learnt studying five schools across Australia that have embraced a whole-school approach to curriculum, the two of which from WA are both Fogarty EDvance schools – Serpentine Primary School and Aveley Secondary College.

The paper presents the six key features of a whole-school curriculum approach:

• A shared vision among school leaders and teachers.
• Shared, detailed, and sequenced curriculum plans and materials.
• An agreed approach to classroom instruction.
• A tiered model for supporting the learning of all students.
• Curriculum leadership roles and expertise.
• Ongoing professional learning and support for teachers.

This helpful report also provides links to materials prepared by other schools to help exemplify what this looks like in practice – and can provide a fast-track way to get started. 

Grattan is also hosting an online event series with school leaders from two of the case study schools in our Guide. You can register for these events here:

• A conversation with Adam Bright and Brad Nguyen from Docklands Primary School, register here.
• A conversation with Stephen Pestana and Jarrad Stewart-Olsen from Aveley Secondary College, register here.

The Foundation joined with the Executive of UWA at the start of the new semester to welcome the eight, 2023 UWA Fogarty Scholars at the annual breakfast held at St Catherine’s College on 3 March.  

This year the State’s highest achieving students include Jessica Doan who was awarded the UWA Fogarty Beazley Medallist Scholarship.  Together with current Fogarty Scholars and Alumni the new Scholars were formally welcomed to the prestigious program.  

The 2023 UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholarship recipients are: 

• Lucius Beh (Perth Modern) 
• Jessica Doan (Perth Modern) 
• Mariya Faisal (Lynwood Senior High) 
• Sienna Hanikeri (Presbyterian Ladies College) 
• Jake Mawson (Lake Joondalup Baptist) 
• Nicholas Ng (Christ Church Grammar School) 
• Juliet Roux (Perth Modern) 
• Jade Wallwork (St Mary’s Anglican Girls School)  

In 2023 we mark the 20th year of partnership with UWA, under which the Scholarships were established.  The Scholarships are offered to the State’s brightest and most committed students, who receive a full scholarship for the entirety of their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Scholars are selected based on their academic excellence and outstanding achievements in leadership, community involvement, enterprise, the arts and/or sport. 

 “By empowering and enriching our high performing students, we are encouraging them to shine, and use their vision and direction to enable positive change in society,” explained Caitlyn Embley, Executive Director of the Fogarty Foundation.  

“We need innovative and inspiring leaders and businesses in WA, which is why the UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholarships continue to be a key element of the Foundation’s work,” she said.  

UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholars are provided with $10,000 per annum to assist in university tuition, accommodation and general living expenses. They participate in a tailored leadership and enterprise program, academic mentoring, leadership opportunities, support for initiatives and they become valued members of the Scholars and Alumni network.  

The Scholarships are available for Undergraduate and post graduate study at UWA and Scholars wishing to pursue postgraduate studies in specialist areas are also able to be supported, in partnership with Australian National University (ANU), to undertake their studies at ANU in Canberra. 

Since 2004, the scholarships have educated and supported 187 outstanding young people who are now contributing to their communities, our State and our nation. The UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholarship Program is one of Australia’s premier scholarship programs. You can read about some of the exceptional Scholars at fogartyfoundation.org.au. 

The UWA Fogarty Scholars and Alumni enjoyed an evening of canapés at the UWA Club recently, as they celebrated another inspiring year of learning, leadership and collective accomplishment.

InspirED is the final event of the year for the Leadership and Innovation program where UWA executive and staff, past speakers and friends of the Scholarship Program are invited to celebrate the achievements of Scholars.

David Sadler, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), spoke about the significance of the scholarship program and congratulated Scholars and Alumni for their commitment to excellence and achievement. 

Emma Bond shared an overview of the Fogarty Scholars’ Association events and congratulated the Futures team for another hugely successful Futures Conference. 

David Scaife MLA shared his story, from country public school boy to UWA Fogarty Scholar. He spoke about how the scholarship has supported his professional life and encouraged Scholars to take every opportunity presented to them.

Graduating Scholars, Hannah Bowden, Ben Caulfield, Adehlia Ebert and Theodore Kenworthy-Groen, spoke about their experiences at UWA and their future pursuits. 

Thank you to everyone who attended this InspirED event. It was a wonderful opportunity to hear from UWA Fogarty Scholars and Alumni who are working towards and/or acting as leaders in our community and beyond.  

West Australian philanthropist and WA 2020 Australian of the Year, Annie Fogarty AM, is delighted that Fogarty EDvance has seen all 125 participating schools achieve improvement, and over half of these, realise significant improvements for their students. 

“Fogarty EDvance believes that with strong leadership, a whole school improvement strategy can be successfully implemented, transforming schools, and improving educational outcomes for students,” Annie Fogarty explained.

In 2022, EDvance celebrates 10 inspired years of working with West Australian schools in challenging communities. The program has impacted 125 schools, over 430 school leaders and more than 57,000 students. All schools have seen improvements in student outcomes, including behaviour and attendance data; with over 50 percent of schools achieving significant improvements in student academic outcomes. 

Established by the Fogarty Foundation in 2012, in a unique partnership with the Department of Education and Catholic Education WA, the goal of EDvance is simple yet bold – to improve student outcomes and bridge the inequality gap in education.

“We looked around the world for best practise in education and we gathered a diverse group of highly qualified and committed people to discuss how we could improve outcomes in challenging communities,” Ms Fogarty explained.

“We brought together wisdom, ideas and different approaches, and using this knowledge, we created and have continued to refine what is now the Fogarty EDvance program,” she said.

Georgie Wynne, Fogarty EDvance Program Director, explained that the program improves academic outcomes for students in challenging communities by enhancing the leadership skills of principals and their leadership teams.

“The program has a two-track agenda – school improvement and leadership development. It brings together the best tools from education, business and philanthropy, shares these tools and practices with school leaders, and supports them as they translate these practices into their schools and classrooms,” Georgie Wynne said.

“We work within each school’s context, mentoring and supporting schools for the entire three-year program. We focus heavily on the school’s organisational health and use data to inform ongoing strategic planning – with the ultimate objective of improving student outcomes.  Unlike other ‘off the shelf’ development programs, we also hold school leaders accountable for measuring and reporting their progress at the end,” she said.

“One of the main reasons why EDvance has been so successful, is because it has been brought together and supported by an exceptional group of people from within education and across the business and community sectors – all who bring knowledge and expertise from a wide range of sectors. They are involved because they all believe in the importance of quality education for all and the benefits this brings to our whole society,” Ms Fogarty said.

Congratulations Ashah Tanoa and Brett Healey, dual winners of the 2022 WAIER-Fogarty Foundation Postgraduate Student Research Prize.

The Fogarty Foundation partner with the Western Australian Institute for Educational Research (WAIER) to offer a postgraduate student research prize of $5000. The aim of the prize is to support educational researchers studying at an approved higher education institute who are conducting research directly relevant to early childhood, primary, secondary or tertiary education. 

Ashah Tanoa’s project,“Let’s yarn about uni”: Conversations around the Indigenous student university experience, includes two studies on conceptualising and supporting Indigenous student success. In the first study, Ashah will describe an innovative undergraduate enabling unit that offers academic coaching to Indigenous students, where students value relational support and accountability. For the second study, Ashah will present a research proposal on an appreciative inquiry study that will capture lived experiences of Indigenous students who left in their first year of university. The study will collect data through yarning with previously enrolled Indigenous students: those who left within their first year and those who continued studying. 

“We were especially impressed with Ashah’s focus on First Nations students’ experiences in higher education and her focus on using the money to further develop her research and data collection in this important project,” the judges commented. 

Brett Healey is a teacher and researcher specialising in children’s writing. His doctoral research project, A cognitive stylistics approach to grammar for writing in teacher-student writing conferences, aims to develop a set of concepts to help primary school students understand the link between the way they visualise narrative scenes and the grammar that helps them write it. Specifically, the research is focused around dialogue between teacher and student. Dialogue centred on a student’s writing – known as a writing conference – helps teachers enter the world of the student’s narrative, and from here they can teach explicit modes of imagination which translate into grammatical choices.

“Brett’s international teaching experience coupled with his strong focus on teaching narratives indicates yet another much-needed area of research in education. His work signals a return to teacher-as-facilitator and guide in how students develop their work as writers and are supported in making meaning with language,” the judges commented. 

Congratulations Ashah and Brett – we at the Foundation – look forward to seeing the results of your research projects. 

Annie Fogarty was a member of a panel discussion at the recent Science of Learning (SOL) Leadership Accelerator in Melbourne. The SOL Accelerator was organised by Knowledge Society and hosted by the Crowther Centre, Brighton Grammar School. 

One hundred and thirty educators from around Australia attended to discuss and accelerate evidence-based change in effective teaching practice, and how the Science of Learning can be scaled in Australia from niche to mainstream.  

The Science of Learning is the cognitive-science on how students learn and connects learning to practical implications for teaching. It includes how students: 

• Understand new ideas 
• Learn and retain new information. and
• Problem-solve.

All educators should be able to connect these principles to their classroom practise. Speakers at the conference included Dr Jenny Donovan CEO of the Australian Education Research Organisation, Pamela Snow Professor of Cognitive Psychology, Ollie Lovell author of Cognitive Load Theory in Action and Tools for Teachers, and Ross Fox Director of Catholic Education (Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn) who is working to ensure their whole system is based on the Science of Learning.  

With Australian students’ academic performance declining and 28% of our Year 7 students not functionally literate enough to be able to access further learning, we need to teach reading with evidence-based practises. This will ensure that at least 95% of our students can read effectively, not just 60 to 70%.  For this to happen, universities will need to base their Initial Teacher Education courses on evidence-based practises and professional learning for teachers will need to focus on developing this mindset and toolkit for present teachers.  

The Fogarty Foundation support the Science of Learning through the Fogarty EDvance School Improvement Program and our Teaching Intensives.  Learn about the Science of Learning here.