Page 22 - Tropic Magazine Issue 33

TROPIC • WORK & STUDY

Make a difference

LEARNING TO TEACH
A Far North Queensland
teacher-to-be is ready to
inspire the next generation
of young adults.

Growing up in Innisfail surrounded
by inspiring teachers and educators,
Martika Carroll knew the difference that
teachers could make in students’ lives and
wanted to do the same.
She is now studying the final semester of
her Bachelor of Education (Secondary) at
James Cook University (JCU).
“My mum has worked as a teacher aide
at one of the primary schools that myself
and my brother and sister went to
in Innisfail,” Martika said. “She’s been
there nearly 20 years and is still there
today as the Community Liaison Officer.
“So, I think it’s played a big part seeing TEACHING IN THE TROPICS
the way my mum has been able to interact In 2018, Martika was awarded the Pearl
with and support students, especially Duncan Teaching Scholarship, which is
Indigenous students.” named in honour of Dr Pearl Duncan, I want to be part of the
Other teachers throughout Martika’s an Australian Aboriginal teacher who
schooling also influenced her decision to dedicated her life to improving Aboriginal process of just helping
study education, including a high school and Torres Strait Islander participation students transition out of
Marine Studies teacher who was also in education. “Having a quality education
her netball coach. experience that feels inclusive is really high school and prepare
Now also a netball coach herself, Martika important for students,” Martika, a them for the world
said these formative experiences have Bigambul and Djaku-nde woman, said.
stayed with her. “That connection with “One of my main goals is that I really Martika Carroll
JCU Bachelor of
my teachers was really important, and want to improve the educational Education student
creating connection is a big thing for me environments for students at school,
as a teacher, as well. Building that rapport particularly for Indigenous students, to
with students definitely pays off in make them feel a lot more comfortable “It was both challenging and rewarding.
your classroom.” Being an Aboriginal person myself,
and to enjoy being in my classroom. I definitely wanted to be able to work
“The money from the scholarship was with Indigenous kids. I was able to put
really helpful with my studies and it also
guarantees you a permanent teaching a lot of the skills from my degree into
practice and my time at Thuringowa State
position when you graduate. It helped me
with textbooks and when I needed to go High School turned out to be the best
placement I’ve ever done.”
out of town for placement. Martika has chosen Health and Physical
“One of the first things I did when I
received the first payment was go out and Education (HPE) and Geography as
her teaching areas, enabling her to
buy myself a new laptop for my studies.”
Now in the final semester of her degree, fulfil her passions of being outside and
engaging students in hands-on learning
Martika said it has been great to experiences. “I’ve always loved sport and
experience teaching placement in many
different schools throughout North have done quite well at it,” she said.
“I just wanted to share that knowledge,
Queensland, including Gilroy Santa
Maria College in Ingham and Thuringowa experience and passion for different
sports with students all through
State High School in Townsville. high school.”
“Going from a smaller school in Ingham
to a much larger school in Townsville was
quite different,” she said.

22 • Tropic • Issue 33