Excellence in Literacy Teaching rewarded at CDU

Charles Darwin University (CDU) student Grady Redway was today awarded the ALEA University Award 2021 for Outstanding Achievement in English-Literacy in an Early Childhood or Primary course.

The award, which is given to a CDU Education student in their final year, was today presented by CDU Dean of the College of Indigenous Futures, Education and the Arts (CIFEA) Professor Ruth Wallace and Australian Literacy Educators Association (ALEA) Principal Fellow Helen Chatto.

CDU student Ms Redway, who moved to Darwin in 2020 from Geraldton in Western Australia, is studying a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and working as a relief educator at an early learning centre in Darwin and as a tutor at a primary school in Palmerston.

“I’m hoping to stay in Darwin and work as a primary school teacher up here and experience everything the Territory has to offer,” Ms Redway said.

Ms Redway, who’s just 22 years old, plans to start applying for full-time graduate teaching positions in the Territory once she completes her studies at the end of 2022.

“There’s so much diversity in the NT and so much to learn from other people so I’m really looking forward to continuing to build my experience in education here,” she said.

“I really enjoy seeing students grow and flourish and helping them understand and learn different concepts, it’s really rewarding.”

In congratulating Ms Redway for exemplary achievement in Primary English-Literacy Education at CDU, Professor Wallace said literacy and numeracy were the foundations of educational practice and success.

“CDU’s commitment to supporting and acknowledging high impact teaching in these core skills continues in all courses and for all students,” Professor Wallace said.

“I commend these teachers who have demonstrated excellence through their practice and commitment to students learning and outcomes. Students learning and futures will only benefit from great teaching like this.”

ALEA Top End Executive Simone Timms and NT State Director Jemma Rust worked with CDU Lecturer in Education (Early Childhood) Dr Betty Noad and CDU Senior Education Lecturer Dr Claire Bartlett to identify the 2021 ALEA Award winner.   

Mrs Timms said it was pleasing to see high-quality English-Literacy teachers emerge from CDU.

“We welcome the quality contributions these teachers make to our schools across the Northern Territory and beyond,” Mrs Timms said.

CDU Lecturer in Education (Early Childhood) Dr Betty Noad said preservice teacher knowledge of English Language and Literacy was essential to effectively teach in classrooms across the Territory and Australia.

“It is essential for preservice teachers to understand Literacy 2021 as contextual, digital, intercultural, critical and creative, to develop confident communicators and learners for their local and global futures,” Ms Noad said.

“At CDU, our preservice teachers in School Placements are meeting the practical challenge of designing effective Literacy teaching for the linguistic and cultural diversity of learners in classrooms of Australia.”

ALEA are the peak professional association for national teachers in Australia.