Investing in Our Staff, Investing in Our Students
At Santa Maria College, we are committed to fostering a culture where our staff thrive, innovate and lead. Thanks to the generosity of our families through the Parent Levy, the College offers a Professional Learning Grant, providing funding for staff to undertake further study or research that aligns with our Strategic Plan and our Mercy Value of Excellence.
The grant supports staff to deepen their knowledge, enhance their skills and make a lasting impact on teaching, learning and school improvement. This year, it enabled Head of Sport, Emma Wood to complete a Graduate Certificate in Education (Careers Development & Counselling) through Queensland University of Technology (QUT), graduating with a Distinction.
The qualification has expanded Emma’s expertise beyond the Health & Physical Education (HPE) classroom, equipping her with the skills to support students as they explore future pathways, make informed decisions and prepare for life beyond school.
After completing her Masters of Education in 2022, Emma discovered a renewed enthusiasm for learning and wanted to continue challenging herself professionally.
“I loved being back on the learning curve,” she said. “After having professional development conversations with leadership and my mentors, I was interested in exploring teaching, learning and support areas outside of the HPE space.”
The graduate certificate consisted of four units completed online over 12 months. Two units focused on careers development, examining the changing world of work, career education and the skills young people need to thrive in an evolving workforce. The remaining units explored counselling skills, including identifying strengths and barriers, realistic goal setting and supporting students to make informed decisions about their futures.
While the course content was valuable, one of the most fascinating aspects was seeing how universities are adapting to the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence.
“QUT were really open in their position as they navigate AI and were so open to feedback and sharing their learnings,” Emma explained. “We completed more presentations, critical evaluations and in-person justifications of our work. At times, we even had to provide evidence of the AI prompts we used and evaluate the responses AI generated.”
Balancing study alongside a busy role at Santa Maria, family commitments and sport was not without its challenges.
“At times, the juggle was very real,” she said. “But being on the learning curve is always a great experience. I really appreciate being given the opportunity and I’m thankful for the support the College gave me to complete this course.”
Returning to study also gave her a fresh perspective on the student experience.
“It was a stark reminder that learning new things or using new platforms can be overwhelming,” Emma reflected. “It has reminded me that patience and the power of a pause for clarity can really help with the overwhelm.”
These experiences have strengthened her ability to understand the factors that influence student confidence and decision-making, while equipping her with practical counselling skills that complement her teaching practice.
Although she remains deeply passionate about Health & Physical Education, the qualification has broadened the ways she can contribute to the College community.
“I’ve always been and will continue to be passionate about the Health & Physical Education space,” she said. “However, I also recognise that careers evolve, and having an additional teaching qualification provides greater flexibility and longevity. It opens the door to new opportunities and allows me to contribute in different ways across the College.”
Looking ahead, she hopes her new knowledge will help students confidently navigate the many pathways available to them after school.
“Our students have so many options these days, and I’m hoping my new knowledge can assist them in navigating this space,” she said. “It was also fun having conversations with students about my own study. It was a reminder to them that learning doesn’t stop, even us oldies can lock in!”
She also expressed her sincere appreciation to the Santa Maria families whose Parent Levy contributions made the opportunity possible.
“Thank you so much for your generosity. Although at times, between my role at the College, parenting and my own sport, I wondered what I was thinking, I’m so glad I took the leap. I’ll always be the number one supporter of your girls in the sporting arena, but this has also allowed me to branch out, and I hope to support them as they plan their next steps.”
The Parent Levy Professional Learning Grant reflects the College’s commitment to investing in our people. By supporting staff to continue learning and developing their expertise, our community is helping ensure Santa Maria students benefit from the latest knowledge, skills and best practice in education.
- Careers Counselling, Careers Education, Featured, Mercy Values, Parent Levy, Professional Learning Grant, Santa Maria College, Staff Professional Development, Student Support, Teaching excellence
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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