Qualifications
 

• B.A. (French, Indonesian and German)

• Dip.Ed. (LOTE / TESOL), M.Ed., Grad. Cert in Bilingual/Immersion Education, Dip

• Spanish as a Second Language - Intermediate Level (Instituto Cervantes, Madrid), Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

• Graduate Certificate in Assessment of Student Learning
   

Career Journey 
 

Sarah began her career as a teacher of Languages, and now consults in Victoria and interstate in a variety of areas relating to learning and teaching. Previously Head of Languages at a Secondary boys’ school, Sarah completed a Masters in Education focusing on engaging boys in languages and teacher role in motivation.

Sarah runs seminars in a range of areas, including Differentiation of the Curriculum, Behaviour Management, Boys Education, EAL in the Mainstream Classroom, Backwards Design Curriculum Planning, Assessment, and Inquiry Teaching and Learning. Sarah facilitates short and long-term projects, tailoring objectives, workshops and ongoing support to the needs of the teachers with whom she works. Sarah is passionate about supporting teachers to constantly reflect on, and enhance their approaches to teaching and learning.

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In 2014 and 2015, Sarah was based in Jakarta, Indonesia, where her work (in an international school setting) focused on inquiry approaches to primary teaching, assessment practices across primary and secondary schools and EAL in the mainstream classroom. During that time, Sarah continued to consult in Australia. Since her return to Melbourne, Sarah’s work has focused on Assessment in Schools, the role of Feedback in the Assessment Process, and Differentiation (in particular, highly able and gifted learners, as well as learners with special needs).

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Sarah has been involved in the implementation of VET Applied Language programs in secondary schools since 2005. This included developing curriculum materials, supporting teachers in schools, and a large focus on assessment approaches in VET and how they differ from traditional classroom settings. Sarah's work continued to extend into other areas of VET, and more recently included supporting the implementation of VET Applied Indigenous Languages in the Northern Territory, including remote communities, since 2017. Ripponlea Institute is the first, and only, RTO in Australia to deliver the Certificate II & III in Applied Language in the Aboriginal Languages of Arrernte, Yolngu Matha, and MurrinhPatha.

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Sarah became owner of Ripponlea Institute in May 2018. Ripponlea Institute underwent acquisition by ReadCloud in June 2021. Sarah thoroughly enjoys the diverse role, working across the ReadCloudVET RTOs in a role supporting compliance, learning and assessment.