The Australian Awarded University Teacher’s Network

Dr Poh Wah Hillock

Awarded Year | 2022

Awards Type | Teacher of the Year

University | The University of Queensland

Current Position | Senior Lecturer

Discipline: Mathematics

Email | p.hillock@uq.edu.au

Online Profile | View

Associate Professor Nic Connelly

Awarded Year | 2022

Awards Type | Teaching Award

University | RMIT University

Current Position | Associate Professor and Assistant Associate Dean Aerospace Engineering and Aviation

Discipline: Engineering

Email | nic.connelly@rmit.edu.au

Online Profile | View

Professor Paul White

Awarded Year | 2022

Awards Type | Teaching

University | Monash University

Current Position | Deputy Dean

Discipline: Science

Email | paul.white@monash.edu

Online Profile | View

Dr Jessica Danaher

Awarded Year | 2022

Awards Type | Teaching Award

University | RMIT University

Current Position | Senior Lecturer in Nutrition

Discipline: Health

Email | jessica.danaher@rmit.edu.au

Online Profile | View

Associate Professor Michelle Lazarus

Awarded Year | 2021

Awards Type | Teaching Award

University | Monash University

Current Position | Director, Centre for Human Anatomy Education

Discipline: Health

Email | michelle.lazarus@monash.edu

Online Profile | View

Dr Diana Tolmie

Awarded Year | 2021

Awards Type | Teaching Award

University | Griffith University

Current Position | Senior Lecturer of Professional Practice

Discipline: Creative Arts

Email | d.tolmie@griffith.edu.au

Online Profile | View

Dr Nick Brown

Awarded Year | 2021

Awards Type | Teaching Award

University | RMIT University

Current Position | Senior Lecturer

Discipline: Engineering

Email | nick.brown@rmit.edu.au

Online Profile | View

Dr Bonnie McBain

Awarded Year | 2021

Awards Type | Teaching Award

University | University of Newcastle

Current Position | Senior Lecturer

Discipline: Science

Email | Bonnie.McBain@newcastle.edu.au

Online Profile | View

Dr Katherine O’Brien

Awarded Year | 2021

Awards Type | Teaching Award

University | Queensland Institute of Technology

Current Position | Senior Lecturer

Discipline: Health

Email | katherine.obrien@qut.edu.au

Online Profile | View

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Teachers have one of the most honourable and important jobs in the world – shaping the future
of people from all backgrounds and at all stages of life. Universities simply couldn’t educate
the almost one and a half million students they do each year without them.

In 2022, adopting the “new normal” of learning, educators continued to apply a mix of teaching
modes and methods to meet professional standards and the needs of a wide range of students.
Academic and professional staff rolled out innovative content and platforms for both online and
in-person learning environments, optimising students’ learning experiences and opportunities.

There is no limit to what our educators can achieve, and they must continue to be supported
and empowered to perform their vitally important roles. More jobs in the future will require a
university degree – a need that can only be satisfied by a strong, capable and inspired teaching
workforce.

The Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) recognise the most outstanding teachers and programs across the sector. This year’s awards celebrate university teachers at different stages in their careers, from early career academics to those who have devoted a lifetime and, quite literally, written the book on university teaching. We congratulate all this year’s winners and hope their example and ideas will inspire and instruct teachers throughout the university sector.

Dr Poh Wah Hillock is an innovative leader who has enhanced learning and teaching and the student experience at the University of Queensland (UQ). With her philosophy of identifying and then building upon students’ current knowledge, Poh has motivated and inspired countless students to excel in what is commonly regarded as a difficult discipline – Mathematics.

As the Director of First Year Mathematics and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Poh’s work focuses on helping her first year mathematics students open doors to success. Many students are underprepared for first year mathematics and need support to bridge the gap between high school and university mathematics. By building a comprehensive support network which leverages high impact practices, such as differentiated and collaborative learning, Poh has significantly improved students’ mathematical understanding and confidence. A key element of the support network is Poh’s award-winning Support Learning Tutorial which recognises students as individuals with specific learning needs. Through Poh’s concerted efforts, failure rates have plummeted, not through the lowering of academic standards, but through improved student understanding.