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Gillian Sinclair - ACT Year 12

Gillian Sinclair Head of Department CIT Year 12 Program (ACT Senior Secondary Certificate)

Gillian Sinclair
Gillian Sinclair, Teacher

Gillian is the Head of Department for the CIT Year 12 Program at CIT Bruce campus.  I have over 25 years’ experience as a teacher and manager in high schools, colleges, at TAFE and university in NSW and the ACT.

Qualifications:

  • Master of Education  (TESOL) -  Wollongong University
  • Graduate Diploma in Professional Communication - University of Canberra
  • Bachelor of Arts - University of Wollongong
  • Diploma in Education - University of Wollongong
  • Certificate IV in Training and Assessment - CIT

Industry experience

I have over 25 years' experience as a teacher in high schools, colleges, at TAFE and university. I currently coordinate CIT's Year 12 program, providing pathway planning, enrolment advice, study skills and support and referrals for students in our Year 12 program. Prior to this I coordinated the international and local ESL (English as a second language) and languages and courses at Reid campus.

Before coming to CIT I taught Year 12 English, ESL and History at Hawker College where I was the refugee support teacher and the anti-racism contact officer. I coordinated 'Language for Understanding Across the Curriculum' as well as the international student program where I liaised with the Education Department, International Unit and education agents in China.

These experiences gave me a thorough understanding of the learning needs of young people in general, and specifically the needs of students from overseas whose first language is not English. I am able to use these experiences in my work at CIT.

I have also been a tutor of academic techniques in the UC Connect program, where I helped students coming through the University of Canberra College to access university courses.

I also taught communications across a range of industry groups with CIT for more than five years, in addition to teaching in colleges and high schools throughout NSW and the ACT.

How I've improved training for students and industry

I was a member of the Vocational College team that researched, designed and implemented the CIT Vocational Year 12 program giving people an alternative to the traditional, school-based year 12 model.

I was also part of the development of an online tool to encourage pathway planning skills and e-portfolios. This tool helps students across the range of programs offered by the Vocational College including Year 12, Access 10, the Adult Migrant English Program, English for Employment Study and Life, Learning Options and English programs for international students.

I developed and implemented the Pastoral Care program for the CIT Year 12 Program to ensure students have access to support services.

Involvement with industry

I have a strong interest in the needs of ESL students and have coordinated a number of international student programs. I have liaised with international units at CIT and the ACT Department of Education, Immigration and educational agents in China and Vietnam. I have been a member of Companion House's teacher support network for refugee students, was the anti-racism contact officer and Access Asia coordinator promoting Asian studies in schools.

I also supported students in the Language for Understanding Across the Curriculum (LUAC) program which develops English skills across all subjects with a particular focus on English for mathematics, science and business.

Other industry connections

I have previously been the Year 12 Assessment and ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies Certification coordinator for the Vocational College.