**Photo Credit:** (Left to right) Greg Kelly, Martin Sellar and Natalie Nelmes

Local tertiary student Martin Sellar made such an impression on his teaching practicum that he has been snapped up and offered a 12 month contract – all before he has actually graduated.

Martin, a current CQU Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching (Secondary) student at Geraldton Universities Centre is currently finishing the last part of his course – including a 6 week internship. By November, once Martin has completed his study requirements with CQUniversity and achieved provisional registration with the WA Teachers Registration Board he will join the profession as he takes up a full-time position teaching Science and Physics to Year 10-12 students at Geraldton Senior College (GSC).

“I’m teaching the current year twelves, which is great, the school has provided me with a mentor, Gordon Anderson, who is the former head of Science, helping to guide me with these students who are about to undertake their final Year 12 exams,” Martin explained.

Martin originally qualified and worked as an engineer, even tutoring engineering students at GUC, before commencing the one year Graduate Diploma.

Geraldton Senior College Principal, Greg Kelly stated “For us to be able to access someone like Martin, with his wide range of skills, who has studied locally, is a very valuable and attractive proposition. We don’t have to go searching for staff from other universities; we can go straight to GUC, who are producing highly skilled and motivated teachers such as Martin.”

After working on an outstanding and engaging out-of-school-hours STEM program at John Wilcock College, Martin introduced the highly successful Maths Grand Prix to GSC in Term 2 during his practicum. The program saw students designing, constructing and road testing handmade miniature model cars. The intriguing activities being recorded and measured introduced a range of concepts and techniques within the science, technology, engineering and mathematics subject areas.

“Good teachers within the STEM subject areas, such as Science and Physics are highly saught after, particularly in regional areas, and Martin is highly skilled in these areas and much more. His rapport with students is a key to his early success,” said Mr Kelly.

“GUC supports CQUniversity courses across the spectrum of education - early childhood, primary, and secondary. This year we are set to graduate 12 students as early childhood and primary school teachers and a further 10 from the Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching as Secondary teachers. GUC is proud to be training highly skilled and competent graduates who are filling local professional teaching positions, building our community capacity and aspirations,” said GUC Director Natalie Nelmes.

2017 will be the last chance to undertake the one-year full-time course in the Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning. From 2018 it will be necessary to do the Master of Education program (a two-year course). Anyone with an undergraduate degree and relevant working experience with two identifiable subject areas in their academic transcript can apply for the course.

Those who are yet to complete an undergraduate degree can apply to enter the Bachelor of Education (Secondary), a 4 year full-time course, for the first time at GUC. Students in this course choose a discipline teaching area from areas such as Accounting, Business, Biology, Chemistry, English, Geography, Health and Physical Education, History, Home Economics & Hospitality, Industrial Technology & Design, and, Mathematics.

The CQU program also offers a unique opportunity for trade-to-teacher pathways. Students enrolling in discipline areas of Industrial Design and Technology or Home Economics and Hospitality can receive recognition of prior learning if they have previously completed a trade certificate, an Australian apprenticeship with teaching experience or 3-5 years trade work experience in the relevant industry.

Anyone who is interested in any of the Education courses offered at GUC can contact the